Two teams both meet similar goals Bangor Rams roll to win over rival Brewer Witches

BANGOR – They’re two different swim teams at two different levels.

The Bangor girls are trying to qualify more and more swimmers as the Rams seek their first state championship since 1997. The Brewer girls are chasing personal-best times and state championship qualifications for their front-line swimmers.

And even though the Rams soundly defeated the Witches 129-48 at the Bangor-Brewer YWCA’s Aloupis Pool Friday night, both teams got strong results and worked toward their different goals.

Brewer coach Kathy Cahill continues to watch her squad’s times dip each meet. Bangor’s Ginny MacMillan had some of her top swimmers in their best events, and others entered different events in order to qualify for states.

“We’re really trying to get ourselves set up [for a run at the state title],” said Bangor’s Katherine Mullen, a senior captain. “We have a lot of really fast swimmers this year.”

Mullen accomplished several goals Friday night – her time of 28.70 seconds was good for a second-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle, which is a season-best time and puts her below the state qualifying standard.

“It was a best time for me,” Mullen said. “I had been swimming about that time but not in an actual race, so it was good to qualify. I’ve been swimming really well this year.”

Mullen has qualified for states in the 100, 200 and 500 free events, and all before Penobscot Valley Championships next month, which is another first for her.

Bangor seniors Polly Emery (100 back), Margie Ervin (100 breaststroke), Erin Woolley (100 free) and Whitney Lingenfelter (50 free) each won their respective event.

Juniors Candida Carvajal won the 100 butterfly and Sammy Hartery and Kate Wardwell, two of the top divers in the state, held off Brewer standout Hilary Ohmart to take first and second, respectively, in the diving competition. Sarah Gordon, who is in her first year swimming in high school (she has competed with the Hurricane Swim Club), took the 200 free.

The Ram upperclassmen cleaned up Friday night, but freshman Isobel Herbold was the only double-event winner. She won the 200 individual medley and the 500 free in a time of 5:33.80, which is one of the fastest times in the state this year.

Herbold has gone 5:27.95 this season and is taking aim at the school record of 5:23.22.

“We’re just coming off doubles [practice sessions],” she said. “I was right on my time in the 200 and I’m happy with my 500.”

Brewer junior Sarah Guppy had a tough task swimming in the lane next to Herbold in the 500, but Guppy was willing to let Herbold push her.

“It was good for me and I wanted to stay with her, but she’s really fast,” Guppy said. “I’m pretty happy with what I did. They weren’t quite best times but they were right where I was two weeks ago, when I last swam the same events.”

Almost as soon as she got out of the pool from the 500, Guppy was back in the water, anchoring the Witches’ 200 free relay.

Kate Hanlon did something similar. The Brewer freshman was second in the 100 breaststroke – she had to catch Woolley in the final length and nearly caught Ervin – and got right back in to lead off the 400 free relay for Brewer.

Hanlon dropped about four seconds in the breaststroke.

“You almost want to start out not sprinting, but going 80 to 90 percent,” Hanlon said of her strategy. “The third 25 [yards] is really where you start picking up speed and the last 25 is a dead sprint, all you have.”