The Wiscasset Wolverines competed at the State Class B Swim Meet at Bowdoin College on Feb. 19 and 2o. While just two swimmers, they represented Wiscasset extremely well.

The Wolverines train and compete individually with the Lincoln Academy Eagles and the Boothbay Region Seahawks. They share practice time, transportation and coaching with the two teams. This year, the Class A and Class B State Meets were dedicated to longtime swim coach Don Strout. His years of dedication to the student athletes and swimming were recognized at all meets.

Swimming for the Wolverines are sophomore Maria West and freshman Nathan Gilliam. Gilliam broke the school record this year with a time of 5:29.80 in the 500-yard freestyle. He placed ninth at the State Meet in that event as well as 11th in the 200 freestyle. Gilliam shaved off time from his best time in that event. Due to the small numbers, they were unable to field any relay times.

West, whose sister Julia is the record-holder for Wiscasset in the 100-yard breaststroke, competed in the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke. Marie shaved off hundredths of a second in the breaststroke from her best time.

The Wiscasset swim team needs swimmers. At one time, the team had a state champion in the 50 freestyle as well as a state-winning 200 freestyle relay team. With numbers dwindling, the need to attach to the current situation was warranted. The three schools are unofficially known as “Lincasset Bay.”

While experience in competitive swimming is a plus, anyone who can swim all four strokes is encouraged to join the team next season. Hopefully, the WCC Unsinkables will deliver some swimmers to the high school team in the coming years.