STORM SWIM TEAM COACH LOOKS BACK
From the March 5th Scarborough Leader
Written by Martha Williams, Special Contributor

With a strong showing in the state meets and a win in the South Western Conference Championship, Red Storm swimming has reason to be proud.

Coached by Sean Flaherty, class of 2003, and current State Representative from Scarborough, the team continues a proud tradition dating back to 1939, in an era that saw the beginning of interscholastic competition in several sports. Ken Dolloff, class of 1940, swam for Scarborough that year, adding to his accomplishments in track and basketball. He recalled the Triple-C meets held in the Portland YMCA pool and the rivalries among neighboring towns.

Flaherty shared his thoughts on the conclusion of his first season as coach of both the boys and girls swim teams.

“After my first season as coach of the swim team, I certainly had a lot of memories come back.

“I remember the great sportsmanship that our program was so well know for. During the course of four seasons, Scarborough won the state’s sportsmanship award two of those years, both boys and girls. In 2003 Southwestern Swim League officials were so impressed with our great sportsmanship, they awarded us a special sportsmanship banner after the season.  “We had our own goofy inside jokes, like Perry Como, the crooners CD, was exchanged in one of the annual Yankee swap holiday parties, and it became one of the swim team’s unofficial mascots and running jokes. To this day, the Scarborough boys swim team can be heard chanting “P-E-R-R-Y-C-O-M-O, Perry Como!” at any given meet.

“That was one of the best parts about being part of the Scarborough team. Not only were we perennial contenders for state championships during those four years, but we probably had more fun than any other team. At least, it always felt that way.

“We also took three of four conference titles. The only one we lost was by four points and were outscored by 30- plus points in diving, because this was before Scarborough even had a diving team. “I’ll never forget my freshman year, we finished a very strong second place at the state meet after winning a conference title. We had great senior leadership in Tom Hendrix and Jason Schellkopf (who went on to be Scarborough’s assistant coach for five years).

“One of the best races, which parents, kids, coaches and officials still talk about, was the girls 500-yard freestyle in 2003 at the Class B state championship. My younger sister, Jenn, was up against the defending champion in the event, McAuley junior Kary Goodman.   My sister was only a sophomore and both were gunning for the meet record. Goodman had great turns, and powerful underwater speed and started every length of the pool with a good lead. But Jenn would fight back through the water, nearly catching her on each length.

“By the last 100 yards, Jenn was losing less and less on each 25, and by the very last 25, she was dead even after 475 yards. The two girls turned for the final lap and grinded out everything they had left.

“I had never heard a pool so loud. I had the privilege of watching my little sis, attack that last length, and beat the McAuley star to the wall. Both swimmers broke the Class B meet record, but at the end of the day, it was this little sophomore from Scarborough who went on to win the meet. It was amazing and something I will always tell my swimmers about for years to come.

“Coming back to the program as a coach has been so much fun. I had the privilege of coaching one of the top athletes in the state, Robby Gravel, a senior at Scarborough, who because of conflicts with his club team, swam for Scarborough for his first time this season. At the Class A State championship meet, the 200 individual medley was hailed as the “race to watch.” The race didn’t disappoint.  Gravel pulled ahead of Wells after the breaststroke and held off Wells in the freestyle to break the state record I held for eight years.

“I don’t remember a time when two swimmers simultaneously swam faster than a state record, never mind have the current record holder standing on the deck, coaching one of them.

“It was one of the most amazing races to be a part of, and I am so excited that it will stay a Scarborough record.”