Barracudas race for Beaulier Event in memory of Y volunteer

BANGOR – The Bangor Y Barracuda Swim Team held its second annual Kim Beaulier Memorial Pentathlon Feb. 25, taking 11 medals and scoring 94 best times. The Barracudas were the hosts for the event, which brought more than 70 swimmers to the Aloupis Pool at the Bangor Y on Second Street to swim five individual events and a relay.

Area teams in the competition were from the Downeast Family YMCA in Ellsworth, Kennebec Valley YMCA in Augusta, Mount Desert Island YMCA in Bar Harbor, Old Town-Orono YMCA Canoe City Swim Club and Piscataquis Regional YMCA in Dover-Foxcroft.

The invitational meet was named in memory of Kim Beaulier in recognition of her commitment to the Bangor Y Barracuda swim team. A true champion to swimmers and parents alike, Beaulier died Dec. 19, 2003, leaving behind a legacy of volunteerism, integrity, compassion, determination and sportsmanship.

She believed that every child should have the opportunity to swim regardless of financial constraints, and she was a firm believer in swim scholarships. Despite her lengthy illness, she was chairwoman and treasurer of the parent committee, spearheaded many team fundraisers throughout the years, and continuously gave her time and energy for whatever was needed. A recipient of the Irene Palmer Award, team recognition given to a Barracuda parent volunteer each year, she also was named YMCA Volunteer of the Year.

Always on deck as the loudest cheerleader encouraging each swimmer to surpass his or her own expectations, Beaulier knew every swimmer by name, could tell you each swimmer’s best event and fastest time, and could calculate combined results – without pen or paper – while in the midst of watching a race.

High point winners of the meet were:

. Girls 10 and under: Paige Nitardy, first place; Lauren Prue, second place; and Alyssa Reardon, third place, all of the Bangor Y team.

. Boys 10 and under: John Peterson, Canoe City Swim Club, first place; Yuval Boss, Canoe City Swim Club, second place; Brendan Mahns, Kennebec Valley YMCA, third place.

. Girls 11 and 12: Erin Boyer, Piscataquis Regional YMCA, first place; Chellie Oldfield, Canoe City Swim Club, second place; Marlee Bergmair, Mount Desert Island YMCA, third place.

. Boys 11 and 12: Maks Grover, Downeast Family YMCA, first place; Ethan Hoksch, Bangor Y, second place; Welles Tisdale, Bangor Y, third place.

. Girls 13 and 14: Tara Nitardy, Bangor Y, first place; Eliza Woodcock, Bangor Y, second place; Min Hwang, Bangor Y, third place.

. Boys 13 and 14: Seth Oldfield, Canoe City Swim Club, first place; James Moreside, Bangor Y, second place; Zach Beaulier, Bangor Y, third place.

. Girls senior, 15 and over: Katherine Foley, Canoe City Swim Club, first place; Jen Day, Bangor Y, second place.

. Boys senior, 15 and over: Zechariah Juarez, Kennebec Valley Y, first place; Nigel Storer, Mount Desert Island Y, second place; Micah Juarez, Kennebec Valley Y, third place.

The Barracuda Swim Team began its summer season on April 10. For information about the team, call Skip Nitardy, head coach and senior director of aquatics and competitive swimming, at 941-2808.