AUBURN — Swimming used to dominate Tim Brodsky’s athletic heart and soul.

Now it has been relegated to sharing the space, at least, with lacrosse. And OK, if you really pin down the Edward Little High School senior, he might admit that the pool sits in the shadows these days.

And the funny thing is, his results have never been better.

Brodsky fell eight-hundredths shy of a Class A state championship in the 50-yard freestyle, earning a silver medal in the race Feb. 15 at Bowdoin College.

He finished a solid fifth in the 100-yard companion event, shaving more than a second off his personal record.

Those exploits make him the Sun Journal all-area boys’ swimmer of the year for the second straight winter.

“I was very happy. I got two best times, and they were the biggest time drops I’ve had in a long time,” Brodsky said. “Probably a lot of it was the excitement of it being my last meet.”

Swimming is a lifetime activity, of course. And there are nationally sanctioned events for adult competitors from 18 to 99. So it’s not out of the question that we could see or hear about Brodsky bagging more medals and records in the future.

For now, though, he is a full-time lacrosse player. Brodsky will enjoy one more season with the growing EL program before embarking upon his career in the sport at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

“Up until even two or three years ago, I was planning to swim in college,” Brodsky said. “But then my shoulders started to hurt a little bit, and I also started to realize how much I love lacrosse.”

Brodsky began the transition as a junior by streamlining his schedule, dropping the Twin Cities Swim Team club program from his plate.

With soccer occupying his attention in autumn and lacrosse emerging as the object of his affection in the spring, Brodsky stuck to the traditional high school season of November to February.

“Spending less time in the pool took it a little easier on my body,” Brodsky said. “I missed being on the team. It’s a lot of fun. But it definitely has been good for my body.”

Brodsky’s time of 22.73 seconds in the 50 free trailed only George Mandic of Deering at states.

Mandic and Brodsky were part of a deep senior class of freestylers that also included Ihan Cameron of Bangor and Keegan Goan and Cameron Lindsley of Cheverus.

“It changes a little bit every year, but most of those guys I’ve been swimming against them in clubs since I was little,” Brodsky said.

In addition to his peers, Brodsky also drew inspiration from his older brother, Andrew, now a swimmer at Hamilton College.

Their close relationship changed over the years in its swimming context. In a unique twist, it was the younger Tim who first swam competitively and eventually lured Andrew to give it a shot.

“He has helped me a lot every time he comes home,” Brodsky said. “Swimming really has become his thing. It’s important to him, and he loves it.”

Brodsky will combine his newfound athletic passion with two of his chief academic interests at Skidmore: Exercise science and biology.

“I’ve always wanted to work with athletes, and I’ve always wanted to become a doctor,” he said.

koakes@sunjournal.com

Boys

Tim Brodsky, Edward Little

Brett Delawter, Lewiston

Colby Miles, Lewiston

Ryan Robitaille, St. Dom’s

Kurtis Stocker, Lewiston

Sean Winstead, St. Dom’s

Girls

Christina Bilodeau, Edward Little

Sam Goulette, Edward Little

Loren Lachapelle, Edward Little

Allie Lewandowski, St. Dom’s

Naomi McGonagill, St. Dom’s

Melissa Paione, Edward Little

Chelsey Provencher, Lewiston

Katie Tirabassi, Lewiston

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