Hampden to host first swim meet Swimmers recruit students, help second-year program keep growing

Now in its second year competing as a team, the growing Hampden Academy swim squad will reach another milestone this week.

The Broncos are hosting their first meet Friday at 5:30 p.m. at the Bangor Y’s Aloupis Pool against John Bapst of Bangor.

Hampden Academy, which formed its own team when it grew too large to continue practicing and competing with Brewer High, which was serving as a cooperative team, now has 36 student-athletes on its roster. That’s as big as long-established teams such as Old Town (36), Belfast (35) and Orono (36).

There were 25 swimmers competing for the Broncos last year.

HA athletic director David Shapiro attributed the quick growth to the enthusiasm of Bronco swimmers already with the team who convinced other students to give swimming a try. Some of the team members created a bulletin board to post pictures and results in the school’s main lobby.

“By and large it’s because the kids have recruited,” he said. “They created [the bulletin board] themselves and it’s generated interest.”

Shapiro said several of the new swimmers haven’t done sports before, while others are trying swimming after deciding to forgo another sport or after being cut from another sport. Others are foreign exchange students.

Hampden will also host Foxcroft Academy on Jan. 6.