Local swimmers compete at Winter Champs Swim Meet

Photo courtesy of the PRYMCA     MAINE’S BEST IN THE POOL — Local swimmers participating in the Winter Champs meet earlier in the month in Brunswick included, from left, Clay Carroll, Julia Annis, Avery Carroll, Gabie Johnson and Molly Foley. Swimmers attending the meet but not pictured are Jillian Annis and Jenna Clukey.

BRUNSWICK — Eight local swimmers visited the Greason Pool on the Bowdoin College campus from March 14-17 to compete against USA swim teams from all across the state. Only swimmers with qualifying times are eligible to swim at the Winter Champs Meet.
    The goal of the swimmer is to qualify in as many events during the regular seasons as they can. The swimmers with the top eight point totals at the meet earn a high point trophy for their age group.

    Swimmers in the age groups of 12 and under are allowed to swim in nine events. Swimmers in the 13 and up age groups are allowed to swim in six events, which include preliminaries, with the top 16 returning to swim in the final later in the day.
    Cameron Fadley and Jenna Clukey both had first-place finishes. Fadley finished first in the 100 fly and 200 IM. Clukey came in first in the 50 free, 200 back, 200 fly and the 400 IM. Clukey also had five second-place finishes in the 50 fly, 100 IM, 50 back, 100 free and the 100 fly. Third-place finishes went to Fadley in the 100 free and Avery Carroll in the 100 back.
    Other top eight finishes went to Molly Foley seventh in the 200 free and eighth in the 500 free, Julia Annis fifth in the 200 IM. Avery Carroll fifth  in the 400 IM, sixth in the 200 IM, sixth in the 200 back, seventh in the 100 free and eighth in the 50 free, Gabie Johnson fifth in the 100 breast and seventh in the 200 breast, and Fadley had two fourth-place finishes in the 50 free and 100 back. All top eight finishers receive medals for their efforts.
    The swimmers receive points for the top 16 places of each event they swam, first place is worth 20 down to two points for 16th place.
    The swimmers who have accumulated the top eight point totals receive a trophy for their efforts. The local swimmers earning trophies were Clukey with the second highest point total in her age group, and Fadley and Avery Carroll both contended for finishes within the top five.
    Best times were swam by Jillian Annis in the 100 breast, 50 breast and her lead 100 back in a medley relay, Julia Annis in the 200 IM, 200 breast and 100 free, Avery Carroll in the 400 IM, 200 IM, 50 free, 200 back and 100 back, Clukey in the 200 back, 200 fly, 100 free, 50 free, 400 IM and the 100 fly,  Fadley in the 100 breast, 100 fly,  200 IM and 100 back,  Johnson in the 100 breast, 200 free, 200 breast, 100 free and the 200 back, Clay Carroll in the 200 breast and the 1,000 free. He was the biggest loser taking 21.11 seconds off his 1,000 free swim.
    Four of these local swimmers qualified to swim at regional and national swim meets: Fadley qualified to compete at Sectionals in Virginia, Avery Carroll and Clukey at the Eastern Zone meet in New York, and Julia Annis at Y Nationals in Greensboro, S.C.
    The Piscataquis Regional YMCA is a cause-driven organization that is committed to the community and dedicated to promoting healthy spirit, mind, and body for all, through programs and services grounded in Christian heritage and the core values of caring, honesty, respect and responsibility.