Scarborough Red Storm Winter Sports Preview
By Michael Hoffer
From The Forecaster, Dec 9th 2009

SWIMMING
COACH: Sean Flaherty (first year)

2008-09 Results:
(BOYS) 4th @ Southwesterns (5th @ Class A state meet)
(GIRLS) 5th @ Southwesterns (5th @ Class A state meet)

TOP RETURNING SWIMMERS:
(BOYS) Adam Saltz (Senior), Martin Schelasin (Senior), Jack Clark (Junior), Mark Endrizzi (Junior)
(GIRLS) Maya Glab (Junior), Dayna Ankermann (Sophomore), Sam Couillard (Sophomore)

TOP FOES: Cape Elizabeth, Cheverus

COACH’S COMMENT: “The boys are returning a number of talented swimmers and are adding many new faces who haven’t swum high school previously. These young men will lead a very deep lineup that will be among the state’s best. Watch for Scarborough to head into the state championships as the team to beat. The girls return a young, but strong group. They’ll be a force to be reckoned with at every dual meet. They’ll certainly be among the favorites at Southwesterns. Look for Scarborough to move up at states. They could surprise a lot of people by bringing home some hardware.”

THE FORECASTER’S FORECAST: Scarborough is loaded for bear this winter and welcomes home Sean Flaherty as coach. Flaherty was the premier swimmer in the state earlier this decade, swimming for the Red Storm, and went to compete at George Washington University. He’s a state representative from the town as well.

This year’s boys’ squad will be led by a nice mix of solid returners and impact newcomers. Leading the returners are Clark (eighth in the 500 free and 13th in the 200 free last year), Endrizzi (ninth in the 50 free and 10th in the 100 free) and Saltz (11th in the backstroke and 13th in the 500 free). Schelasin adds depth in the freestyle races. Then, there’s junior Kip Gravel (backstroke), junior Arthur Hamill (butterfly) and freshman Jerry Gravel (backstroke), who should elevate this squad right to the top. Scarborough opened with a hard-fought 136-124 win over another top contender, Cape Elizabeth, and a 136-66 triumph over South Portland. Look for the Red Storm to be formidable throughout and to make a serious run at the championship in February.

On the girls’ side, Couillard is coming off a sensational state meet showing as a freshman (setting a new school record in placing second in the breaststroke and coming in fifth in the IM). Ankermann came in seventh in the backstroke and ninth in the 200 free last year. Glab was 12th in the 500 free and 14th in the breaststroke. She’ll focus on freestyle this season. Junior Laura Flewelling (breaststroke) and freshman Lucy Iselborn (a sprint freestyler) will soon become household names. The Red Storm beat Class B contender McAuley, 111-69 in the first meet. With the returners only getting better, Scarborough should be in the hunt all season. They’ll be a compelling story when the Southwestern and state meets come around.