As a freshman last season, Messalonskee’s Kenzie Burton earned Morning Sentinel Girls Swimmer of the Year honors in large part to her performance at the Class A state meet, in which she placed fourth in the 200 individual medley and sixth in the 100-yard butterfly events.
Burton followed up her strong freshman campaign with another solid season this winter, which culminated with fifth-place finishes in those same events at the Class A state championship meet.
2016 Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel Girls Swimming All Stars
200 medley relay: Cony (Anne Guadalupi, Gabby Low, Molly Silsby, Talia Jorgensen)
200 freestyle: Anne Guadalupi, Cony
200 individual medley: Talia Jorgensen, Cony
50 freestyle: Talia Jorgensen, Cony
100 butterfly: Nina Boudreau, Erskine
100 freestyle: Talia Jorgensen, Cony
500 freestyle: Haley Gagne, Cony
200 freestyle relay: Cony (Molly Silsby, Tara Jorgensen, Annie Branigan, Abreal Whitman)
100 backstroke: Gabby Low, Cony
100 breaststroke: Jessica Greeley, Winslow
400 freestyle relay: Cony (Talia Jorgensen, Haley Gagne, Gabby Low, Anne Guadalupi)
For her efforts, Burton is again the Morning Sentinel Girls Swimmer of the Year.
“It really is a lot of fun to watch her,” said Messalonskee swimming head coach Beth Prelgovisk. “You can tell she really enjoys swimming. She is a very powerful swimmer and can become a stronger swimmer.”
At the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A championship meet this winter, Burton took second place in the 200 IM (2:20.39) behind Cony standout freshman Talia Jorgensen (2:15.09).
Although a first-year coach at Messalonskee, Prelgovisk was no stranger to Burton and many of the other Eagles swimmers.
“My new high school coach was my old club coach. This year, I knew what to expect as compared to my freshman year,” said Burton.
“She is all spirit when she is on the deck but she is all business when she is in the water,” added Prelgovisk. “She is a great example for the other swimmers.”
Burton said her love of the sport keeps her motivated.
“I just love to swim,” she said. “My family calls the pool my second home because I’m there so much. I’ve tried other sports but swimming is the sport I love.”
A passion for swimming runs in the Burton family. Her father, Colby swimming coach Tom Burton, embraces his daughter’s passion.
“He respects the difference between being a coach and a father,” said Burton.
The Messalonskee sophomore is not satisfied with the first half of her high school swimming career, however.
“I’ve done a lot of weightlifting this year and I’m trying to make each stroke count more while focusing on the little things,” Burton said. “I think I can get better at my weaker strokes like the backstroke and breaststroke instead of focusing just on butterfly and freestyle in order to make me a more well-rounded swimmer.”
Yet, despite her individual accomplishments, Burton and Prelgovisk point to the team dynamic as the most enjoyable aspect of swimming at the high school level.
“I really enjoy the team atmosphere, like when we are on those long bus rides. It is so much fun,” added Burton.
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