The winter storms and icy roads have kept several high school students inside this winter, and for the Bonny Eagle swim team that’s a positive thing.

They are diving more aggressively into the pool this year, with new confidence and a talented team.

The Scots are on the verge of a pinnacle in the school’s history, beginning the season with the boys’ record at 4-4 and the girls 5-3 in only the fourth year of program’s existence.

The season reached a peak last Friday when both teams recorded three wins in a four-way meet against St. Dominic, Hebron Academy and North Yarmouth Academy.

There have been several keys to both teams’ success and one of them is definitely the combined 10 record-setting performances put on by Hannah Branch, Katie Caddle, Corey McGrath and Ian Crossman.

Junior Hannah Branch has been the leader for her team since freshman year, and she has contributed three of the new records this season. Since Branch has been on the team, she has broken, and still holds, 16 Bonny Eagle school records.

Last season, Branch was chosen for SMAA All-Conference honors in four different events, and this season she seems more versatile a swimmer than ever.

She now owns records ranging in distance from the 50-yard freestyle to the 500-yard freestyle and also set marks in different strokes including the 200-meter individual medley, a race that includes each of the four competitive swimming strokes.

On the boys’ side, McGrath, a junior, has become the Scots’ leading swimmer, setting four new school records this season. A swimmer since sixth grade, he says the key to this season’s success is, “Getting a good song into his head.”

“During the off-season I participated in other sports, which I think helped my overall fitness,” said the Scots’ swimmer, who has broken the school records in 100-meter backstroke, 100-meter freestyle, 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke.

With the boys team only having a four-person roster, Bonny Eagle has competed amazingly well, and the Scots seem fired up for the upcoming post-season competitions.

“I’ve been looking forward to regionals and states all year, and I’m hoping to succeed in both,” McGrath said.

Caddle and Crossman have certainly contributed to the successes as well. Caddle, a senior captain, broke the school’s 100-meter backstroke record earlier this season and is an integral part of the Scots’ relays. He owns seven school records.

Crossman, a junior, plays a similar role to that of Branch on her team. He is a talented all-around swimmer who has 12 Scots’ records and also added this season, the 200-meter freestyle and 100-meter butterfly records to his list.

Bonny Eagle seems to be developing into a swimming powerhouse this season, and the future of Scots’ swimming is getting brighter with every meet.

The squads have two regular season meets remaining as well as regionals and states, where they hope to be competitive.

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