Swim official ending 44 years of service Friday night in Bangor

Betty Solarzano will officiate her final meet when Mount Desert Island takes on the Bangor Rams at the Husson University pool in Bangor Friday night.
Solarzano began her tenure as a certified swim official in 1968 and during her 44 years of dedicated service has served as treasurer, secretary, vice- president, and president of the Maine Swimming Officials Association.
Beginning in 1968, she officiated at 25 consecutive high school and YMCA state meets.
In addition to her expertise as a swim official, Solarzano was a leader in Red Cross aquatics, serving as a licensed Red Cross water safety instructor for five decades.
Solarzano’s contributions to swimming were recognized by the Maine Swimming Hall of Fame, leading to her induction in 2004. Additionally, she received recognition from the Maine Principals’ Association for her service to Maine interscholastic swimming.
Phil Emery, Bangor High boys’ swim coach since 1969 and an official at NCAA Division I Swimming Championships, praised Solarzano’s service.
“Betty has been a cornerstone in Eastern Maine officiating. I thank her for all she has done for young swimmers and divers,” he said. “I will miss seeing her on the deck.”
Smallwood shines
Bangor sophomore David Smallwood recorded noteworthy races in last week’s Bangor-John Bapst meet with a smooth 57.6 100 backstroke and a slick sub 1:50 200 free at 1:49.2. Teammate Matt England also recorded a breakthrough swim, finishing the 100 free under 50 seconds in 49.2. Meanwhile, Crusader 500 freestyler Bryan Teilsl  swam a competitive 500 free at 5:24 for the win.
Bears show depth, versatility
The Boston College Eagles race the University of Maine Friday evening and Saturday in Orono in Maine’s final meet prior to the American East Championships scheduled for mid-February.
The Black Bears displayed their freestyle depth and versatility last week against  Bowdoin College as three female swimmers — Naja Harvey (1:59.), Carmen Linden (1:59.2) and Shannon Bender (1:59.7) — finished sub 2 minutes. And, two Black Bear teammates, Kara Dubiel and Grace Barnett, missed the sub 2 minute mark by fractions of a second with 2:00.0 and 2:00.5, respectively.
In the 400 individual medley against Bowdoin, the Maine men showed the benefits of their distance base and their emphasis on stroke versatility as four Black Bears swam the 16-length race finishing impressively, particularly since the Bears are a month away from their shave and taper swims. Ryan clocked a 4:16.4, Mike Copossela a 4:23.5, Yuri Chornobil a 4:24 and Brent Williams a 4:28.

College notes
— Bath’s James Wells and his Indiana University teammates closed the 2011-12 Big Ten dual-meet season with a win over Purdue University  Saturday in the first dual meet broadcast live on the Big Ten television network.
— Wells gave the Hoosiers the lead in the opening event, the 400 medley relay, with a 48.4-second backstroke leg and his relay teammates finished with a win in 3 minutes, 16.7 seconds. The sophomore won the 100-yard backstroke (48.6), finished second in the 200 backstroke (1:49.4) and collected third in the 100 butterfly at 49.9..
— Brewer’s Jessica Hodsdon continued her consistent front-line racing for Bentley College with a 1:08.5 win in the 100 breaststroke against a strong Keene State squad. Hodsdon also swam to a silver in the 100 butterfly at 1:00.3. However, Bentley’s 18 consecutive dual-meet wins ended with Keene State’s  victory.
— At LaSalle University, Brian Batson of Ellsworth swam a speedy dual-meet season time in the 200 free of 1:45.8 to finish third in the Explorers’ victory over Fordham. In the second place 400 free relay (3:10.1), Batson split a 48.1.