AUGUSTA — Carmen Williams consulted her notes when she was asked how many school records Brynn Lavigueur has set this season. Then the Brewer swimming and diving coach rattled them off.
200-yard medley relay. 200 intermediate medley. 50 freestyle. 100 freestyle. 200 freestyle relay. 100 backstroke. Not too shabby for a freshman.
“She could still break more, too,” Williams said.
Freshman swimmers usually don’t rack up all these records or attention, but most freshman swimmers aren’t Lavigueur, a tall, lanky athlete who has made a big splash just a couple months into her high school career.
Lavigueur added a couple more wins to her resume Friday night against Cony and Hyde at the Kennebec Valley YMCA, capturing the 200 freestyle in 1 minute, 59.61 seconds — 10 seconds ahead of the runner-up — and the 500 freestyle in 5:38.35, seven seconds ahead of the next competitor. Oh, and in the 500 she was tops in a seven-swimmer field that included two boys.
It’s no wonder Cony coach Bob Johnston called her the best swimmer in the state after Friday’s meet.
“It’s quite spectacular to watch her,” said Johnston, who added that he never seen a freshman swim like her before. “She comes from good stock. She’s quite a talent.”
Lavigueur, whose parents both swam at the University of Maine, made an impact from literally Day 1, when she set a program record in the 100 backstroke at her first varsity meet in December. Later that month, she set three pool records during a meet at the Mount Desert Island YMCA in Bar Harbor.
Cony swimmer Emily Kennard competes in the 100-yard backstroke during a Jan. 27 swim meet against Brewer at the Kennebec Valley YMCA in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
As the records have piled up, so has the attention from fans and media.
“It’s definitely different and something to get used to,” Lavigueur, 15, said after Friday’s meet. “It’s nothing I’ve ever experienced before.
“I knew coming in that some records were achievable; I’m definitely getting more than I expected.”
While other swimmers are excited and chatty before a race, Lavigueur is generally all business, looking down toward the pool and blocking out all the surrounding noise. When she dives into the pool, the race almost seems over from the start. By the time Lavigueur’s head finally bobs up, she’s already almost halfway down the 25-yard length of the pool.
Williams, a former UMaine swimmer herself, first saw Lavigueur swim as a child at the Bangor Region YMCA and kept tabs on her as her high school career drew closer.
“I was quite aware of her speed before she started swimming with us,” Williams said. “I’m not surprised, but it’s very exciting to have her get all this attention, and for her to be succeeding the way she is. She’s exciting to watch, and she’s a good kid.
“She has the natural talent, but she also has the drive and she works really hard.”
There is no offseason for Lavigueur, who swims for the Westbrook Seals Swim Club the rest of the year. But in the immediate future is the Penobscot Valley Conference Class B girls championships Feb. 11 at UMaine’s Wallace Pool in Orono, followed by the Class B state meet on Feb. 20 at Colby College in Waterville.
Cony swimmer Emily Kennard glides through the water in the 200-yard individual medley during a Jan. 27 swim meet against Brewer at the Kennebec Valley YMCA in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
And who knows how many more records Lavigueur will break before then.
“I’m pretty excited for those meets,” she said “I’m not sure what’s to come, but I’m excited.”
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Lest anyone think Friday was the Brynn Lavigueur invitational, host Cony put up several outstanding efforts. The Rams’ Emily Kennard continued a strong sophomore season with wins in the 200 IM (2:22.85) and the 100 backstroke (1:03.10), and was part of the winning 200 (1:49.20) and 400 (4:01.07) freestyle relay teams. Classmate Annabelle Orth won the 50 freestyle (27.23 seconds) and was on the winning 200 and 400 free relay teams, which also included Lilliana Choate, who captured the 100 butterfly (1:12.05), and Addison Burnham, who finished second to Lavigueur in the 200 and 500 free.
Cony swimmer Addison Burnham competes in the 200-yard freestyle during a Jan. 27 swim meet against Brewer at the Kennebec Valley YMCA in Augusta. Joe Phelan/Kennebec Journal
On the boys side, Cony’s Reid DeJongh earned wins in the 200 (2:08.37) and 500 free (5:38.90); Tyler Foster won the 50 (26.08 seconds, good enough to quality for the Class A state meet) and 100 free (1:01.05); and Jameson Russell took the 100 butterfly (1:01.16) and 100 backstroke (1:06.03). The trio teamed with Matteo Hardy to take the 200 medley relay (2:05.05).
“We had some very good wins, especially on the girls side,” Johnston said. “We’re getting close to the KVACs and (Class A) states, so it helps to improve their cut times. We had some good competition tonight in Brewer.
“This time of year you kinda cut back on their workouts so they’re a little less tired going into the meets so hopefully they can swim faster.”
The Class A meets are Feb. 20-21 at Bowdoin College in Brunswick.
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