One local swimmer already proved she’s the fastest in her event. Starting Monday, a number of others who call the Lewiston YWCA home are going to try to do the same.

Allie Lewandowski won the 100-yard breaststroke in Class B on Saturday. The Class B boys and Class A girls will be vying for their own gold medals on Monday (Class B at the University of Maine, Class A at Bowdoin), followed by the Class A boys on Tuesday. Finals in Orono begin at 5 p.m., in Brunswick at 7 p.m.

The Mount Desert Island girls won their first Class B girls title since 1989 on Saturday. Based on seeds, the favorites for the boys’ title include defending champion Greely, Belfast, and Ellsworth.

The fledgling St. Dom’s program doesn’t have the numbers to compete for the team title, but will send a contingent led by Jake Nowinski (50 freestyle) and Ryan Robitaille (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke). Robitaille already owns two top-eight medals from previous state meets, in the 100-yard backstroke and 200 individual medley, and is likely to add to his collection Monday.

Nowinski, Robitaille, Cody Leavitt, Michael Dempski, and Stephen Lomaugh (200 freestyle and medley and 400 freestyle) will compete in the relays.

In Class A, KVAC champion Morse will try to defend its state title with Bangor, Cheverus, Messalonskee and Windham expected to give chase.

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“Bangor should win the meet. Morse should be up there as well as Cheverus,” Edward Little coach Scott Morrison said.

“Morse and Bangor sound like they’re going to be neck-and-neck to me,” Lewiston coach Tom Stocker said.

Leading Lewiston to the starting blocks will be Katie Tirabassi (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly), Jess Soucy (200 and 500 freestyle), Abby Blaisdell (200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke) and Camille Dionne (100 freestyle, 200 freestyle).

Only two points separated Edward Little from their rivals at KVAC’s, so the Red Eddies may be gunning for final bragging rights. They also have one of the top contenders in Melissa Paione, who is seeded third in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the 100 breaststroke.

Morrison has high hopes for Paione, a junior who placed third in last year’s 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 500 freestyle at states.

“There are two girls ahead of her in the 200 freestyle. She’s beaten both of them,” Morrison said. “There’s a one-second difference between the top four kids in the 100 breaststroke. They’ve all gone back-and-forth with one another.”

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Samantha Goulette (200 IM, 100 backstroke), Rachel Gagne (200 IM, 100 breaststroke) and Hayley Barton (100 butterfly and 100 backstroke) will also compete for EL.

Bangor is vying for its fifth consecutive boys’ title, but should have plenty of competition at Bowdoin.

“Between Cape Elizabeth, Windham, Bangor, and then Cheverus, you can’t discount them. It’s going to be exciting,” Stocker said. “Between whoever is on their game and how they play their cards, it could be anybody’s call.”

The Lewiston boys will send five swimmers to Brunswick: Dustin Morris (200 IM, 100 backstroke), Colby Miles (50 and 500 freestyle), Alex Small (50 freestyle, 100 backstroke), Ian Roy (100 breaststroke) and Peter Tirabassi (100 butterfly).

“For us being in a building year and with predominantly young swimmers, I’m relatively content with where we are,” Stocker said.

Andrew Paione will swim in the 100 backstroke for EL.


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