Swimming team excels in Class A State Swimming and Diving Championships

By Matt Pascarella

The Windham High School’s boys’ and girls’ swim team competed in back-to-back Class A State Swimming and Diving Championships at Bowdoin College in Brunswick against schools from all over the state with the boys’ meet held on Monday, Feb. 19 and the girls’ meet on Tuesday, Feb. 20.

Windham junior Lukas Hammond competes
during the Class A Swimming and Diving
State Championships on Monday, Feb. 19
at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.
PHOTO BY
SU-ANNE STIMPSON HANMOND

“The kids swam really well,” said Windham swim coach Peter Small. “Even in some cases where we didn’t see fast times, we saw a lot of personal best times across the board and that’s what you want. The big takeaway for me is even in those races where we didn’t, we saw technical improvement. The beauty of a sport like swimming is we can actually quantify improvement from day one to the end. We were turning over really quickly ... we were riding high in the water; we were grabbing the water better than we ever have; all those things we kind of put an emphasis on we saw come today. I love the way this group bonds, they’re a group that works hard together ... they’ve jelled all year and I love that.”

Boys

Windham finished in 13th place.

Junior Lukas Hammond finished 26th in the 50-yard freestyle with a 26.58 second time.

“To qualify for states was exciting,” said Hammond. “It meant one more race for us to swim. We swam great, the focus was to just go have fun and show everyone what we’d been practicing for weeks. During the 200-free relay we placed two places higher than expected from our preliminary rankings which was amazing.”

The team of senior Joey Somma, junior David Daignault, sophomore Wyatt Washburn and Hammond placed 13th in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:53.48.

In the 400 freestyle relay Somma, freshman Sawyer Stone, Washburn and Hammond finished 11th with a time of 4:34.86 minutes.

Girls

Windham finished 16th with a score of 44.

Junior Sarah Inman came in fifth in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:51.83. She also finished ninth in the 200 freestyle with a 2:12.86 time.

“This is my third year [qualifying for states],” said Inman. “To me it doesn’t matter about qualifying, it just matters how much hard work I put in.”

Inman is satisfied overall with how she did.

“I did what coach Small and Simonson wanted,” said Inman. “They wanted me to start off fast and get faster – see the competition, beat the competition and that’s what I did.”

Junior Morgan Farley finished 13th in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:12.30 and 14th in the 50 freestyle with a time of 28.31.

In the 100 freestyle, senior Grace Theriault finished 18th with a 1:04.30 time.

Sophomore Martina Jefferson finished 18th in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:14.47.

The relay team of senior Riley Small, Jefferson, senior Mackenzie Gaudette and junior Diletta Galloni finished 18th in the 200 relay with a 2:17.04 time.

“I think it went really well,” said Riley Small. “We came together as a team for our last meet, and we all have worked so hard, we all deserved to be here. Our sportsmanship was good, we had a number of new best times and I think everyone’s mindset has improved throughout the season. We all had confidence in ourselves, and it showed in the pool.” <

WHS swimmers make great strides against Cape Elizabeth

By Matt Pascarella

Windham High School’s swim team put forth a great effort against the defending state champions Cape Elizabeth during an early season meet at Saint Joseph’s College on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Windham girls lost 104-42 and Windham boys lost 106-18.

Windham senior Grace Theriault keeps pace and form during
a prep swim meet at Saint Joseph's College against Cape
Elizabeth on Wednesday, Dec.13.
PHOTO BY MATT  PASCARELLA

Girls

“I think we all did really good, we all definitely tried our best,” said Windham senior Grace Theriault. “We’ve been working on starts and turns this week and it really showed today – everyone’s starts and turns have been really good. What went well was that everyone pushed themselves and I pushed myself too. A lot of people got really good times and Cape definitely helped push us to go really fast and it showed.”

Windham’s team of sophomore Martina Jefferson, senior Riley Small and juniors Sarah Inman and Diletta Galloni finished third in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 2:32.42 minutes.

Windham junior Morgan Farley finished third in the 200 freestyle event in a time of 2:21.11. Theriault was right behind her with a 2:22.41 time.

Theriault finished third in the 100 breaststroke in a 1:26.09 time.

In the 50 freestyle Small finished fourth with a 34.70 second time. Galloni was fifth with a time of 37.87.

Farley finished third in the 100 butterfly in a time of 1:17.27.

Small finished second in the 500 freestyle with a 7:25.76 time.

Inman finished first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:13.73 and second in the 200-individual medley with a 2:34.72 time.

Boys

Junior Tanner Stresky finished third in the 200 freestyle with a time of 3:33.08.

“I think we did great, we set our goals before the meet, and we conquered them,” said senior Landon Buzulchuck. “We came in with the amount of confidence we had and did what we did. We ... didn’t focus on how good they were, we focused on what we could do as a team. As a whole team we need to work on getting our flip turns more constant, doing it every time and not every other time.”

Buzulchuck said flip turns cheering and confidence all went well. Competing against one of the top teams in the state shows them the competition they have in Maine; going against a top team early in the season can help out because they know who they’re going up against.

In the 50 freestyle event, Hammond finished fourth with a 26.90 time. Washburn was not far behind with a 30.64 time.

Senior Lukas Hammond also finished fourth in the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:06.90.

Senior Joey Somma finished fourth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:38.51.

In the 400 relay, the team of Buzulchuck, freshman Mason Butterfield, freshman Sawyer Stone and sophomore Caden Valle came in second with a 5:39.30 time.

“In swimming, you can’t play defense against your opponent,” said Windham swim coach Peter Small. “All you can do is focus on what you do, so we try to instill that mindset. Across the board I’m hard pressed to think of somebody who didn’t achieve what we had hoped to achieve today for improvement and that’s all we can ask for. Some of the kids who don’t have as much experience we were looking for technique; body position – unbelievable. “It exceeded what I thought they’d be able to do while racing by keeping body position. We’ve come so far, and I couldn’t be more pleased with where we are.”

Small said technique needs work; everything from starts and turns to small twitches they’ve got to make in their arm positioning.

“Anytime that you elevate to the competition ... that drive and ability to compete is going to bring it out in you,” said Coach Small. <

Powerful finish lifts Windham swimmers over Bonny Eagle

By Matt Pascarella

To close out 2022, Windham’s swim team had a spectacular showing during a home meet at St. Joseph’s College on Dec. 28 against Bonny Eagle where four Windham swimmers qualified for the state meet including sophomore Morgan Farley, senior Hannah Heanssler, junior Grace Theriault and sophomore Sarah Inman.

Windham junior Riley Small swims during a meet against
Bonny Eagle on Dec. 28 at St. Joseph's College in Standish.
Small was competing in the 500-freestyle race and cut 30
seconds off her time in just a week.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

The girls’ team beat Bonny Eagle, 80-65, and the boys’ team turned in a strong performance but lost to the Scots, 29-10.

Windham was coming off a home win against Cheverus on Dec. 21, so spirits were high going into this swim meet.

“I decided to think more positively instead of negatively,” said Farley who qualified for the state meet in the 100-yard backstroke, where she came in first with a time of 1:16.30 minutes and finished second in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:44.58. “Mindset has a really big part in every event you swim because if you have that mental blockage that ‘I can’t do it’ you’re not going to be able to do it.”

Farley said that maintaining a positive mindset allows you to have fun and swim the time you want to swim. She had a tech suit on for the first time and told herself she was going to swim faster. She wasn’t sure if it was the suit or the change in attitude, but something definitely helped her make this meet a good one and she thought the team did great against Bonny Eagle as Windham continues to make progress; headed for a strong finish at the end of the season.

Heanssler finished first in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 26.96 seconds. She also finished first in the 100 with a time of 1:02.34.

“I was excited, I was feeling good,” said Heanssler. “We’ve been working really hard in practices, all of our team’s just coming together. Everyone swam really well with a lot of confidence; our hard work’s been paying off.”

Windham freshman Seamus McDougall earned his first win in the 50-freestyle event with a time of 31.72. He came in second in the 100-yard freestyle with a 1:13.64 time.

“It felt pretty good [to get my first win],” said McDougal. “We improved a lot over this week ... our flip turns really improved. I think our team has done really well this year; I’m hoping to make states.”

Inman finished first in the 500-yard freestyle with a 5:44.29 time and in the 200 IM with a 2:25.26 time.

Theriault came in first in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:14.70 and third in the 500 with a time of 6:04.57.

Windham senior Reagan McDougall finished second with a 30.42 time in the 50-yard freestyle.

“We always try to build off the previous meet,” said Windham swim team coach Peter Small. “We’re always looking to peak in February. They have such a hard work ethic and a great mindset. If you looked at all of our swims tempo was key.”

Small said that tempo and streamline form went really well during the meet. They increased training over break and kids were tired going into the meet. However, their strokes didn’t fall apart; their stroke technique held up and if you can hold technique when you’re sluggish, when you’re rested it’s going to be very strong.

Team spirit for Windham swimmers has been great this year and the team motivates each other with a positive mindset, Small said. <

Windham’s swim team outstanding during Southwesterns meet

Windham senior Chloe Desmond competes in the backstroke
race during the Southwesterns South Division swim meet
at St. Joseph's College  on Friday, Feb. 11.
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA

By Matt Pascarella

Windham swim team gave it their all during the Southwesterns South Division virtual meet against Biddeford, Bonny Eagle, Freeport, Gorham, Kennebunk, Massabesic, Sanford, Thornton Academy, Waynflete, Wells and Yarmouth.

It was exciting for Windham to get to compete in a championship format with other schools for the first time since 2019. The Windham girls placed sixth overall with a score of 120. Windham boys finished 11^th with a score of 12.

Windham raced in-person with Bonny Eagle, Freeport and Yarmouth at St. Joseph’s College on Friday, Feb. 11.

After the remaining schools had completed their meets, they were all scored together.

“For us we haven’t been in a meet where we’ve had this energy,” said Windham swim team coach Peter Small. “What you saw was people were so overjoyed to have it – cheering each other on – I think it motivated everybody to go.”

Windham senior Chloe Desmond got a personal record in the 50-freestyle with a time of 29.41. Desmond also received a scholarship based on community involvement and academic success.

“I was so excited to see everybody swim, everyone did so good,” said Desmond. “Everyone all across the board got personal records. We have such a great bond and it’s just like a big family.”

Windham freshman Sarah Inman finished sixth in the girls’ 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:09.61 minutes. Not far behind her was sophomore teammate Grace Theriault with a time of 2:11.32. Theriault also finished with a time of 5:55.39 in the 500-yard freestyle.

“It was definitely tough, tough competition; a lot of fast swimmers,” said Theriault. “I think the team did really good; there were definitely some best times set.”

Windham junior Hannah Heanssler finished third in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 26.42 seconds. She also finished fourth in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 1:00.60.

Windham junior Ella Wilcox finished top 10 in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 1:06.16.

Windham senior Nate Fitzgerald finished with a time of 28.17 in the 50-yard freestyle and senior teammate Ryan Bowden followed with a 28.76 time.

Fitzgerald finished in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 1:03.51.

Windham senior Nour Humaid finished with a time of 1:38.28.

Bowden finished seventh in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 1:25.80 time.

Bowden said he thought the team did great. He said the season has gone well and said this team will always have a big part of his heart. <

Windham swim team defeats Lincoln, falls to Bonny Eagle in tri-team meet

Windham sophomore Grace Theriault swims in the 100-yard
breatstroke event at St. Joseph's College during Windham
High's final home swim meet of 2021 against Lincoln Academy
and Bonny Eagle on Wednesday, Dec. 29. Windham defeated
Lincoln Academy 72-31, but fell to Bonny Eagle, 65-62
PHOTO BY MATT PASCARELLA  

By Matt Pascarella

In their second home meet of the season and the final meet of 2021, the Windham swim team showed nothing but ambition and determination as they hit the water in a tri-team meet with Lincoln and Bonny Eagle.

Last year, the swim team graduated a lot of athletes, so while team numbers are lower than normal this year, they are a competitive squad who are having fun and pushing each other to compete.

That push to compete and swim faster was visible in the final scores of the meet held at St. Joseph’s College in Standish on Wednesday, Dec. 29. The Windham boys beat Lincoln Academy 26-10 and were defeated by Bonny Eagle 48-20.

Windham girls trounced Lincoln Academy 72-31 and narrowly lost to Bonny Eagle 65-62.

Windham senior Nate Fitzgerald came in first in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:29.08 minutes. He also finished first in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 1:08.96.

“Today, I felt pretty good coming in, and I think I performed very well. I won both my races; they gave me some good competition,” said Fitzgerald.

Fitzgerald said a lot of the team has improved and dropped times since the start of the season. He said what’s great about the team is they are always very supportive of one another.

Windham freshman Morgan Farley finished first in the 200-yard Individual Medley with a time of 2:53.68.

Sophomore Grace Theriault finished first with a time of 1:27.88 in the 100-yard breaststroke. She also placed second in the 100-yard freestyle with a time of 1:04.33.

In the boys 50-yard Freestyle, senior Shantanu Mayfield placed second with a time of 33.99 seconds. Senior Nour Humaid came in fourth with a time of 51.66.

In the 100-yard backstroke freshman Sarah Inman finished first with a time of 1:09.35.

Senior Chloe Desmond was close behind Inman and placed second with a time of 1:17.31.

Desmond said the start of the season has been a lot slower coming out of – and still dealing with – the obstacles of Covid, but it’s starting to pick up the pace and that’s exciting.

“I think they did a great job today,” said Windham swim coach Peter Small. “We had kids doing best times, their technique is clicking in. We saw great strides from last week. If week to week you can just get that technique and hopefully things will click even more so come Southwesterns. While they said they were sluggish, their strokes didn’t show it and they were riding high in the water.” <