Messalonskee senior Ben Thibert plans on concentrating on aeronautical engineering and swimming next fall when he enters Clarkson University. Given his accomplishments in the pool during his high school career, planning on a career centered around the principle of flying shouldn’t be that much of a stretch for Thibert.
At the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A championship meet, Thibert won the 50-yard freestyle race by almost a second (22.68). He also took third place in the 100 breaststroke event at KVACs. For his performance throughout the season, Thibert is the Morning Sentinel Boys Swimmer of the Year. Alex Bevier, of Lawrence, was also considered.
2016 Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel Boys Swimming All Stars
200 medley relay: Waterville (Isaiah Bernier, Carter Jones, John Reisert, Alan Baez)
200 freestyle: Noah Aube, Cony
200 individual medley: John Reisert, Waterville
50 freestyle: Ben Thibert, Messalonskee
100 butterfly: Griffin Burns, Messalonskee
100 freestyle: Noah Aube, Cony
500 freestyle: Nathan Ruel, Messalonskee
200 freestyle relay: Cony (Nathaniel Berry, Logan Testerman, Dale Lapierre, Noah Aube)
100 backstroke: Nathaniel Berry, Cony
100 breaststroke: Ben Thibert, Messalonskee
400 freestyle relay: Cony (Noah Aube, Logan Testerman, Andrew Levesque, Nathaniel Berry)
“(Thibert) was a swimmer I could count on. He would win both of his events at every meet so I could count on 12 points automatically,” said Messalonskee first-year coach Beth Prelgovisk.
Thibert was no stranger to Prelgovisk at the beginning of the season as she has been his swimming club coach since he was 9 years old.
“I’ve taken a lot of pride in watching him improve over the years. We have a good swimmer/coach relationship,” Prelgovisk added.
Thibert excelled especially at the Class A championship meets during his junior and senior campaigns. During his junior year, Thibert took second in both the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke at the Class A championship meet. He followed that performance up this winter with a fifth-place finish in the 50 freestyle and a fourth-place finish in the 100 breaststroke.
“I really enjoyed the state meet. It’s good to see how my hard work in the pool is compared to the other swimmers from around the state,” Thibert said.
Lawrence’s Bevier, who Thibert counts as a good friend, finished second to him in the 50 freestyle. Having swam together since seventh grade, Bevier admires Thibert’s many attributes.
“He is very passionate about the sport. He is a really smart guy and fun and light hearted, but he is very focused in the pool,” said Bevier.
Despite all of his individual accomplishments as a Messalonskee swimmer, when asked what his favorite memory was during his four years, Thibert is quick to point to a team accomplishment.
“We broke the school record in the 200 medley relay at the state meet (1:49.09),” he said. “It was something we were shooting for all season long so it made for a nice meet.”
Prelgovisk says that Thibert’s best swimming is still ahead of him.
“Each year, we worked on a different stroke. In college next year, I’m really looking forward to him compete at that level, especially in the IM. I think it is all going to come to come together for him at that point,” she said.
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