Swimmers powering through coach change

With Coach Donnie Lynn stepping down as Malta Swim Team Coach, the Malta Swim Team is getting used to a new system, an interim coach who will also be the team's consultant and a future new head coach in the works.

The team has still continued to see growth with close to sixty swimmers on the team's roster.

Malta has already seen two meets this summer with a pair of swimmers that have broken pool records at last weekend's meet in Scobey and placing second in Harlem a week prior.

Last Saturday at the Scobey meet, Darrow Messerly broke the pool record for the boys 11-12 50 Meter Backstroke with a time of 43.91 seconds and the boys 11-12 50 Meter Breaststroke with a time of 44.15.

On Saturday Connor Tuss broke Messerly's 50 meter backstroke record, posting a time of 43.09.

Lauren Tuss took first place in both the girls 10-11 100 IM with a time of 2:02.35 and breaststroke with a time of 57.70.

Marshall Caves took first place in the boys 9-10 50 fly with a time of 51.07.

Chloe Hunter took first in the girls 13-14 50 fly with a time of 1:55.60.

Kylie Hunter took first in the girls 13-14 200 IM with a time of 3:47.37.

Matthew Hunter took first in the boys eight and under 25 back with a time of 32.36.

Soon the team will be led by Coach Cassie Pratt, a former Malta Swim Team member.

At the moment, Rhonda Wittmier is the team's interim coach and consultant. Wittmier shared her thoughts of her team after her first meet as coach.

"They each strive to do their best and they all have a will to work," Coach Wittmier said. "Their sportsmanship is absolutely 100 percent. I was proud of them as a team; they took (time) to cheer on another swimmer who was struggling."

The swimmer that was struggling through her event was a young lady that though confined to a wheelchair powered through.

"It was an inspiration to them that she was swimming," Coach Wittmier said. "To me that was huge to see such sportsmanship on such a small town team. Their sportsmanship is like no other."

Coach Wittmier noted that a lot of swimmers broke personal bests last weekend and she knows that the team competed strong. Still the coach is using a more stress free approach.

"Swimming is not about winning," Wittmier said. "It's about the people you meet and the places you to go."

Wittmier has seen a lot of talent throughout her coaching career as the head coach of USA swimming in Douglas, Wyo, a position she has had for three years.

Wittmier is also registered nurse that is taking care of family outside of Saco.

Malta Swim Team Results from Harlem June 4-5

Marshall Caves (10) M

1:37.41Y Men 9-10 100 IM 1 14

41.81Y Men 9-10 50 Fly 1 14

Reba Doucette (14) W

32.73Y Women 13-14 50 Free 3 10

1:30.51Y Women 13-14 100 Breast 2 12

1:14.09Y Women 13-14 100 Free 3 10

Eion Estill (12) M

49.60Y Men 11-12 50 Free 16

Jahmiah Huffman LaBrie (7) M

30.06Y Men 8 & Under 25 Free 9 4

29.73Y Men 8 & Under 25 Back 3 10

Chloe Hunter (14) W

1:42.89Y Women 13-14 100 Fly 2 12

Kylie Hunter (13) W

3:37.45Y Women 13-14 200 IM 2 12

1:18.85Y Women 13-14 100 Free 5 8

42.66Y Women 13-14 50 Fly 4 9

Mathew Hunter (8) M

24.68Y Men 8 & Under 25 Free 7 6

58.61Y Men 8 & Under 50 Free 6 7

27.64Y Men 8 & Under 25 Back 2 12

Dallan Messerly (12) M

41.56Y Men 11-12 50 Free 13

1:35.57Y Men 11-12 100 Free 10 3

50.54Y Men 11-12 50 Back 8 5

Darrow Messerly (12) M

31.38Y Men 11-12 50 Free 5 8

38.93Y Men 11-12 50 Breast 1 14

39.73Y Men 11-12 50 Back 4 9

Rheanna Messerly (16) W

32.78Y Women 15-19 50 Free 3 10

1:25.78Y Women 15-19 100 Breast 3 10

Erika Nagy (14) W

35.05Y Women 13-14 50 Free 5 8

1:23.16Y Women 13-14 100 Free 6 7

1:37.96Y Women 13-14 100 Back 1 14

Grant O'Brien (17) M

2:46.67Y Men 15-19 200 IM 2 12

1:16.05Y Men 15-19 100 Breast 2 12

1:21.63Y Men 15-19 100 Fly 3 10

Sam Renville (16) M

29.77Y Men 15-19 50 Fly 2 12

1:14.35Y Men 15-19 100 Fly 2 12

Taylor Score (12) M

37.97Y Men 11-12 50 Free 11 2

1:29.37Y Men 11-12 100 Free 9 4

49.50Y Men 11-12 50 Back 7 6

MaRae Smail (7) W

20.65Y Women 8 & Under 25 Free 4 9

49.10Y Women 8 & Under 50 Free 5 8

26.00Y Women 8 & Under 25 Back 3 10

Brittney Sorlie (8) W

23.83Y Women 8 & Under 25 Free 9 4

30.25Y Women 8 & Under 25 Back 7 6

36.41Y Women 8 & Under 25 Fly 2 12

Connor Tuss (12) M

3:11.34Y Men 11-12 200 IM 1 14

43.97Y Men 11-12 50 Breast 3 10

42.71Y Men 11-12 50 Back 5 8

Denvyr Tuss (8) W

19.71Y Women 8 & Under 25 Free 2 12

48.39Y Women 8 & Under 50 Free 4 9

24.80Y Women 8 & Under 25 Back 2 12

Lauren Tuss (10) W

1:52.34Y Women 9-10 100 IM 7 6

52.27Y Women 9-10 50 Breast 3 10

53.01Y Women 9-10 50 Back 5 8

Danika Wilke (8) W

2:08.13Y Women 8 & Under 100 IM 1 14

32.75Y Women 8 & Under 25 Breast 1 14

47.07Y Women 8 & Under 50 Free 3 10

Marcus Woods (14) M

1:33.35Y Men 13-14 100 Breast 2 12

1:12.62Y Men 13-14 100 Free 5 8

1:43.49Y Men 13-14 100 Back 6 7

Malta Swim Team Results from Scobey June 11-12

Reese Brown (10) M

2:10.07S Men 9 10 100 IM 6 7

44.55S Men 9 10 50 Free 7 6 3.56

1:07.77S Men 9 10 50 Fly 4 9 9.55

Marshall Caves (10) M

41.12S Men 9 10 50 Free 3 10 ---

1:00.18S Men 9 10 50 Breast 4 9

51.07S Men 9 10 50 Fly 1 14 ---

Reba Doucette (14) W

36.19S Wmn 13-14 50 Free 6 7 0.29

1:41.58S Wmn 13-14 100 Breast 3 10 3.66

1:23.97S Wmn 13-14 100 Free 4 9 1.61

Chloe Hunter (14) W

38.45S Wmn 13-14 50 Free 8 5 ---

47.46S Wmn 13-14 50 Fly 6 7 2.64

1:55.60S Wmn 13-14 100 Fly 1 14 7.84

Kylie Hunter (13) W

3:47.37S Wmn 13-14 200 IM 1 14 2.85

1:26.21S Wmn 13-14 100 Free 5 8 3.36

41.52S Wmn 13-14 50 Fly 7 6 4.59

Mathew Hunter (8) M

24.68S Men 8 & Und 25 Free 5 8 ---

1:01.46S Men 8 & Und 50 Free 4 9 ---

32.36S Men 8 & Und 25 Back 1 14 ---

Dallan Messerly (12) M

44.13S Men 11 12 50 Free 8 5 ---

54.87S Men 11 12 50 Back 5 8 ---

Darrow Messerly (12) M

3:30.36S 11 12 200 IM 2 12 ---

44.15S 11 12 50 Breast 1 14 0.63

43.91S 11 12 50 Back 2 12 0.65

Rheanna Messerly (16) W

36.59S Women 15 19 50 Free 8 5 ---

1:35.35S Women 15 19 100 Breast 2 12 --

Erika Nagy (14) W

40.08S Wmn 13-14 50 Free 9 4 3.61

1:31.02S Wmn 13-14 100 Free 7 6 8.06

1:43.23S Wmn 13-14 100 Back 2 12 11.80

MaRae Smail (7) W

21.87S Wmn 8 & Und 25 Free 4 9 ---

52.89S Wmn 8 & Und 50 Free 5 8 ---

28.99S Wmn 8 & Und 25 Back 5 8 ---

Brittney Sorlie (8) W

28.65S Wmn 8 & Und 25 Free 11 2 ---

1:04.19S Wmn 8 & Und 50 Free 11 2 ---

39.85S Wmn 8 & Und 25 Fly 8 5 ---

Connor Tuss (12) M

3:44.48S Men 11 12 200 IM 3 10 11.43

51.49S Men 11 12 50 Breast 5 8 2.41

43.09S Men 11 12 50 Back 1 14 2.57

Denvyr Tuss (8) W

21.78S Wmn 8 & Und 25 Free 3 10 ---

48.60S Wmn 8 & Und 50 Free 2 12 10.73

26.57S Wmn 8 & Und 25 Back 3 10 3.07

Lauren Tuss (10) W

2:02.35S Women 9 10 100 IM 1 14 8.79

57.70S Women 9 10 50 Breast 1 14 8.17

1:00.52S Women 9 10 50 Fly 2 12 5.73

Danika Wilke (8) W

2:21.57S Wmn 8 & Und 100 IM 2 12 7.60

31.50S Wmn 8 & Und 25 Breast 2 12 5.54

53.93S Wmn 8 & Und 50 Free 7 6 ---

Makiya Wilke (11) W

37.24S Women 11 12 50 Free 7 6 2.40

48.78S Women 11 12 50 Breast 7 6 4.11

46.75S Women 11 12 50 Back 3 10 2.58