The Boothbay Region Special Olympics swim team competed at Bowdoin College on Thursday, April 6. This was their area meet before they traveled April 13 to Bates College in Lewiston for the state meet.

The athletes spend the year trying to improve their skills and shave seconds off their time in order to get them into the best categories for their skill, age and ability levels.

The total ribbon count was 25 first places,18 seconds, 16 thirds, 14 fourths, three fifths, and one seventh. The team, especially Blake Chadwick, Zander Blake and Coyle Lawler were spectacular. The hard work, as you can see by their results, paid off. Amber Hyson cut seven seconds from her 50 backstroke best time.

At the state meet, Brenda LeConte and Thomas Wilcox delivered for the team coming back with three gold medals each. Brenda swam the 50 fly, 50 free and with the relay team number 1. Thomas swam the 50 fly, 25 breast and then relay team 1. Valerie and Vincent Giles were right behind Brenda and Thomas with two gold and one silver each. The most improved swimmers were Kelsey Hoyle, Blake Chadwick, and Zander Blake. The meet was a great event.

Team members included those mentioned above as well as Donny Dunning, Peter Brewster, Matt Farnham, Danny Miller, Joey Ranco, “Piper” Rankin, Isaac Pray, Matthew Hyson, Grace Giles and Anthony Angelico.