The dearth of press coverage of the 2025-26 Maine high school swimming season does not reflect the copious talent that spans our state.

Conference championships were recently held for Southwestern South/North in Cape Elizabeth and KVACs were in Bath. More than 800 athletes have competed this season. Conference, state and pool records have been broken. I’ll list some notable performances from the conference championships below. There were many impressive swims that go beyond this recognition.

• Caden LaPlante, Messalonskee/Skowhegan/Lawrence/Nokomis, broke a 16-year-old state record in the 100 butterfly.
• The Mt. Ararat/Brunswick girls, Hammer, Colaluca, Cook and Rodriguez, broke the 200 medley relay state record.
• The Morse boys, Chubbuck, Griffee, Wells and Couture, broke the 200 freestyle relay KVAC record.
• The Morse boys, McDonough, Chubbuck, Wells and Couture, 200 medley relay.
• The Ellsworth boys, Jester, Klein, Birdsall and Frost, 200 medley relay.
• Marco Venegas, Mt. Ararat/Brunswick, 100 butterfly.
• Layla Hammer, Mt. Ararat/Brunswick, 100 back.
• Eden Klein, Ellsworth, 100 breast.
• Patrick Saltysiak, MDI, 100 back.
• Fletcher McDonough, Morse, 11 dives.
• Max Couture, Morse, 100 breast.
• Carter Verlee, Falmouth, 200 freestyle.

The state championships will be held at Colby College on March 6 (Class A) and March 7 (Class B).

Spencer Hallowell
West Bath