Bob Winslow coached the Belfast boys swim team for 27 years before the Lions won their first state title in 2000 and went on to repeat in 2001.

This year’s Lions look to be strong, too, although stiff challenges from other teams and individuals around the state could make a third straight title a difficult proposition in the Feb. 16 meet at Bates College in Lewiston.

“It’s going to be tough this year,” said junior Matt Hurley, one of the top swimmers in the state. “None of the teams in Class B are really strong but there are a lot of individuals from teams around the state that could mix things up. It’s really unpredictable.”

Old Town, Ellsworth, MDI and Camden Hills are all among those teams (although Ellsworth and Camden are likely too small to challenge for a state title).

The best sign for Belfast? The Lions have three relays that will likely score in the top six (relays are worth double the points in championship meets). Based on recent time rankings, the Lions lead the state in the 200-yard medley relay and 400 freestyle relay, and Belfast is fourth in the 200 free relay.

“We have two strong relays and the sprint relay is coming along,” Winslow said.

Hurley’s versatility will certainly be a help. He’s ranked first in the 100 butterfly, third in the 200 free, second in the 200 individual medley (Scarborough standout Sean Flaherty has almost eight seconds on Hurley), ninth in the 100 free, second in the 100 backstroke, and fourth in the 100 breaststroke.

Hurley, Dana Randlett, Chris Abbott and Jono Holmes are other team members the Lions will rely on for points in individual events and relays.

Randlett currently holds the top time in the 50 free (MDI’s Jeff Grey is a little more than one-tenth of a second away), is fourth in the 100 free (Grey leads the field in that one). Chris Abbott is the top breaststroker in the state and is now 12th in the 200 IM.

Winslow also has two divers qualified, with Holmes ranked third in the state (Old Town’s Steve Gomm is first) and Ryan Stanley, who hit the 135-point minimum last Friday.

Holmes and Stanley could be key for the Lions in the small field of Class B boy divers.

“I’m hoping for a third [diver],” said Winslow, who also coaches the divers. “I’m hoping Ned O’Connor will qualify.”

Belfast’s vulnerability may lie in the 500 free. Randlett and Holmes have both qualified for the event but they are about four seconds away from the 12th-place swimmer. Still, that’s not a huge time difference in that event.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen with the distance swimmers,” Winslow said. “I’m going to have to make some decisions for the state and KVAC [meets].”

Piscataquis-Valley game notice

Things should be hopping in Guilford Friday, as the Foxcroft Academy girls and Valley of Bingham boys basketball teams will both play games at Piscataquis High.

PCHS principal Bruce Lindberg said fans should know in advance that the gym will be cleared between games and there will be a separate admission for each game.

“We’re trying to make sure that the people who want to see the game can see it,” Lindberg said. “Foxcroft is our big rival and Valley brings a lot of fans.”

The girls varsity game against Foxcroft will start at 3 p.m. The gym will then be cleared for the boys junior varsity and varsity games (JV will start as soon as the girls game ends and the gym is cleared and re-filled).

The Valley boys are the four-time defending Class D state champions and could win their 100th straight win tonight at Rangeley.

Lion gymnasts rolling

The Belfast gymnastics team seems to be turning in a fine season despite a fire in their practice room last February (one floor balance beam still bares the scorch marks).

The Lions have borrowed two balance beams from Fundamental Moves gym in Rockport, they are using a wrestling mat to practice their floor exercise routines, and the girls managed to salvage their old uneven bars and vault.

The team is hoping to raise money to purchase more equipment, including the two borrowed balance beams, and repair the burned floor beam – the girls have worked concessions for the Belfast athletic boosters – but the girls are concentrating on their competitive season, which has gone well despite the turmoil of the fire.

“We’re having our best year in like three years,” senior captain Haley Ratten said. “Our last meet we got 135 points. At our first meet we got like a 110. So we’re very excited. Right now we’re just trying to make sure we make it into states.”

Belfast has scored some key wins this year, including team victories over Kennebunk and Waterville, and several Lions have qualified or are near qualifying for the state championship meet Feb. 16 at Skowhegan. Shannon Miller will compete in the all-around competition for Belfast at the state meet, and as of Friday. Ratten was one qualification away on the beam. Gymnasts need to hit the qualifying minimum for an individual event twice during the regular season for a berth in the state championships.

“Our scores are very, very consistent,” Ratten said. “They’re better than they’ve been in a long time and every meet we’re just solid.”

Late start doesn’t faze Howe

Narraguagus forward Shelby Howe led the Knights of Harrington with 12 points in Saturday’s game against East Grand of Danforth – a 56-41 win for Narraguagus – but that’s only half the story.

Howe missed the entire first quarter of the game because she was taking the SATs in neighboring Cherryfield. The test ran a little late, and the game had a 12 p.m. start time because of the distance between Danforth and Harrington (about 114 miles).

Howe, a 5-foot-7 junior, scored 10 of her points in the second half as the Knights held off the Vikings and moved to 12-3.

“She did a good job of getting her head into the game after rushing to get back here,” coach Steven Noyes said Sunday.

Jessica Bloch’s High School Report is published each Tuesday. She can be reached at 990-8193 or jbloch@bangordailynews.net