BATH

There’s one sure-fire way to improve upon a season that ended with a boys Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference title, a girls second-place finish and two fifth-place state championship finishes — bring everyone back.

Coach Todd Marco and the Morse High School swim team did just that this winter, and if Tuesday night’s KVAC meet against Belfast is any indication of the future, things are looking good in Bath.

Both the Shipbuilder boys (107-61) and girls (107-63) cruised to victories at the YMCA, despite hectic schedules and an illness floating around the team.

“They’re one of the better teams in the KVACs,” Marco said of Belfast. “They had some sick people tonight. We had some sick people. It wasn’t quite as close a meet as we thought it would be.”

One of those sick people was senior Tucker Banger, who didn’t practice Monday ahead of four events in Tuesday’s meet. It hardly showed in his times, as he took first place in the 50- yard freestyle race (22:59), second place in the 100 butterfly (59.99) and first place in the 200 medley relay (1:48.47). He also anchored a 400-free relay team (Dominic Marco, Ben Willertz, Camden Fitzgerald) that ended the night with a dominant 10-second win (3:39.60).

“For the beginning of the season, I thought I had pretty good times,” Banger said. “I was sick yesterday, didn’t swim, but I think I did pretty well for the beginning of the season.”

Freshman Olivia Harper headlined the girls side by breaking a five-year-old school record in the 100 backstroke (58.73). The time was almost eight seconds faster than second place and over 19 seconds faster than third place.

“I’m really excited,” Harper said. “I didn’t really expect it at such a young age, but it’s very exciting for me.”

Harper, 15, also took first place in the 50 free event (25.24) and teamed up with Brittany Kaler, Ella Martin and Ann Tolan to win the 200-medley relay.

Tolan, a top swimmer for Long Reach Swim Club who holds multiple Morse school records, took first place in both of her individual races (200 IM, 100 butterfly) and also led the first-place 200-free relay (Emily Martin, Haily Harper, Kaler) team.

Belfast’s lone win of the meet came in the boys 100 back, where Rudi Schnetzer beat out Willertz by less than a second with a time of 59.24. The Lions took second place in every relay event of the night.

“They were very good competition,” Harper said. “I’ve had a lot of easy swims, but this was definitely one of my hardest. They were very good competitors.”

Looking up

Banger, Tolan and Harper all compete for LRSC and must balance school and swimming each week. On an average day, they go to school, swim with LRSC after school, go home for dinner and homework, and then swim for Morse in the evening. Then more homework. There are 20 Shipbuilders that follow this routine weekly during the winter season.

“Sleep,” Banger said of the hectic schedule. “You don’t get enough sleep.”

The good news is there is also plenty of learning going around. As a freshman, Harper has plenty to learn in and out of the pool.

“Definitely one of my biggest role models is Ann (Tolan),” Harper said. “She helps me through my challenges because she’s been through them.”

Also earning first place on Tuesday were Willertz (200 free, 1:56.86), Marco (200 IM, 2:10.90 and 100 butterfly, 59.47) and Max Gurney (100 free, 52.13). Fitzgerald won the 500 free race by over 13 seconds.

On the girls side, Ella Martin won the 100 free race with a 57.91 time and also took first in the 100 breaststroke (1:16.15), while Haily Harper beat out Kerrigan Smith of Belfast for the 500 free win.

Given the vast experience and impressive times early in the season, assuming everyone is healthy, expectations are high for Marco this season.

“We’re looking at KVACs, to win that,” Marco said. “Then get to the state meet and run for that too this year. We’ve got a big senior class this year so this is our year to try and do it.”