Bangor girls should contend Mix of gifted veterans, newcomers has buoyed swim success

This season has been an interesting convergence of years and circumstances for the Bangor girls swimming team – and it’s one that has put them in contention for the Class A state championship.

The Rams have senior mainstays like Lucy Gross, Sarah Gordon and Candida Carvajal, young standouts such as sophomore Isobel Herbold, promising freshmen Stephanie Palmer, Erica Simpson, Lauren Cardello and Amanda Gist, and two new swimmers who joined the team this year in different circumstances. Cami Howard moved to Bangor this summer with her parents (mom Cindi Howard is the Rams’ new coach) and Kayle Shapero joined the team after two years of competing solely for the Bangor Hurricanes.

Those girls are all capable of giving the Rams lots of points for states, either in individual events or relays.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming into this year,” Gross said after a recent dual meet. “I sort of forgot about all the freshmen coming in that I had been swimming with on the [Bangor YMCA-YWCA club team] all these years. So it was really exciting to get to practice and see that there was an entire lane filled with new, really fast people. It’s nice not to have to lead the lane all the time and we all challenge each other, so it’s fun.”

From the looks of the most recent statewide times posted on the Maine Principals Association web site, Bangor should challenge for the title. The Rams, who were the runners-up last year, will still have to contend with defending champion Cape Elizabeth, which has almost all of its top swimmers back.

Sophomore Cami Howard is probably Bangor’s fastest swimmer at this point. She broke the school’s 200-yard individual medley record during last month’s Westbrook Invitational and nearly knocked off the team’s 500 free mark at Saturday’s Penobscot Valley Conference championship meet.

Based on statewide meet results through Feb. 5, Howard is ranked in the top three swimmers in the state in the 200 and 500 freestyle events and is fourth in the 200 IM.

But during the dual-meet season, Howard had trouble finding people to swim against in this area. She’s eager for some good competition at states.

“I’m getting there,” she said. “I don’t really have anyone to race with. I’m sure when we go up against Cape Elizabeth, I will have somebody to race with.”

Cindi Howard is pleased with her relays, which are worth more points than individual events at championship meets.

“I have some really good relay teams, which is wonderful,” she said. “… These girls are all great. I’m very fortunate.”

A huge spark for Bangor could come in diving. The Rams swept the top four spots at the PVC meet and will likely place four at the state championships (teams can score at most four people per individual event). Samantha Hartery has the top diving score in the state for six dives – divers do 11 at states – followed by Kate Wardwell, Chandra Lippitt and Robin Tiller. Lippitt edged Wardwell at the PVC meet.

Cape Elizabeth does not have any divers listed among the top scorers.

Still, the Capers have to be considered a favorite.

“They’re still going to be scary this year but I hope we give them a scare,” Gross said.

MPA hosting daylong conference

The Maine Principals Association will host the Mentoring Women in Sports conference March 7 at MPA’s conference center in Augusta.

Gorham High athletic administrator Gerald Durgin is among the scheduled speakers. He will address issues of pride and tradition. Trainer Mark Nutting will discuss the basics of sports conditioning for young athletes.

A panel discussion will focus on components of successful programs.

The registration deadline is March 4. To register contact the MPA at 1-800-244-0217 or 622-0217, or email mpa@mpa.cc.

Jessica Bloch can be reached at 990-8193, 1-800-310-8600 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net.