Cony High School senior Victoria Weber came into the winter sports season with high expectations in the pool.
“Senior year is such a big year,” she said. “There are a lot of expectations, that this is your year and to go out with a bang. I had expectations, and I think I met most of them.”
Additional Photos
Weber, who holds every school record in the individual events save for one, certainly did.
She capped her strong season with second-place finishes in her best event, the 100-yard freestyle, at three championship meets — the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference, Class A state and New Englands.
For her performance this season, Weber is the Kennebec Journal Girls Swimmer of the Year. It’s the third consecutive year Weber earned this distinction.
“My season was very good,” she said. “There were some disappointments in that I got sick a few days before states. I wasn’t at my best there, but I still swam fast. I did some times I wanted to do.”
Weber finished second in the 100 free by two-hundredths of a second to Mt. Ararat’s Celia Ouellette at the KVAC A meet. Weber finished in 54.28 seconds.
At the Class A state meet, Weber again finished second to Ouellette, but lowered her time to 54.01.
“That was the meet we were shooting for all year,” Cony coach Jon Millett said. “It all came together. We had sat down at the beginning of the year and asked her what her goals were. We then put a plan together to meet those goals. You’d be hard-pressed to find anybody with a greater work ethic than her.”
Weber said despite finishing second, her 100 free at the Class A meet was her best race of the season.
“It was an awesome experience the whole year,” she said. “I was hoping to win states in the 100 free, but I didn’t quite do it. I was racing against a really fast girl. I raced her at the KVAC’s and I knew I’d have to put up a fight to do well against her. I ended losing by two-hundredths of a second.
“But I had the best time in that event at states. I was pretty happy about it.”
Weber followed up her strong showing at the Class A state meet with another one at New Englands.
She finished second in the 100 free with a time of 55.12.
“Nothing she accomplishes is surprising,” Millett said. “Each year she hits her goals. The sky is the limit. She is one of those kids who can set a goal, visualize it and then is willing to make personal sacrifices to do it.”
Weber will attend Assumption College in Worcester, Mass., in the fall, where she will compete on the swim team.
She is receiving an athletic and academic scholarship.
“I’m excited,” she said. “I can’t wait. I have a lot of expectations.”
Bill Stewart — 621-5640
bstewart@centralmaine.com
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Comments are no longer available on this story