WATERVILLE — The Messalonskee High swim team is gearing up for its most pressure-packed time of the year, the postseason.

But judging by the laughs and smiles of swimmers exiting the pool at practice Wednesday night at the Alfond Youth Center in Waterville, one would think the Eagles were beginning the season as opposed to preparing for its end.

“We’re just one, big happy family,” said senior captain Liana Arnold. “We just have a bunch of inside jokes (during practice). I actually love it.”

That easygoing attitude has been a driving force for the Eagles while prepping for the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class A championships Saturday at the Bath Area Family YMCA. The KVAC B swimming championships are Friday, also in Bath.

At the core of the team’s easy-going attitude is Beth Prelgovisk, who after two seasons away returned to coach the program this winter.

“This year, I feel like she’s brought in a really strong, really supportive attitude,” said sophomore Emma McDowell. “She’s really encouraged us to push ourselves, that’s been nice. Everyone is swimming better and that’s making them (feel) better and enjoying themselves more.”

“(Fun) was our main goal,” Prelgovisk said. “Some of them have been swimming for a long time. Some weren’t sure if they were going to go out (for the team) as a junior or senior. They’re very glad they did, just because we made it so fun for them. They just feel relaxed, they feel like they’re supporting each other and the team. Everyone seems to get along really well. They’re just enjoying each other’s company. … They’ve just seemed to piece it together really well.”

Prelgovisk knows what she speaks. A 2022 inductee into the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame, Prelgovisk was one of the top swimmers in Black Bears’ history upon her graduation in 1981. She said she’s been impressed with the team’s progression throughout the season.

Messalonskee’s Liana Arnold works on her backstroke during a Feb. 7 practice in Waterville. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

“I think the swimmers have done a tremendous job this season improving on their starts, their turns, their strokes in plenty of new events for them,” Prelgovisk said. “That’s just been really fun to see.”

Added sophomore Cailyn Henning: “She’s been super supportive, I think she knows what she’s talking about and gives great advice. She just helps that (supportive environment).”

Messalonskee is eyeing the potential of both individual and team success this weekend, particularly on the girls’ side. Arnold was third in the 100-yard backstroke at last year’s KVAC meet, while sophomore Emma McDowell was fifth in the same event and senior Rylee Spadea was fifth in the 100 breaststroke. Arnold and McDowell went on to have Top-10 finishes in their events at the Class A championships.

On the boys ‘side, Pierce Coughlin has been one of the area’s top standouts, and was third in the 500 free at KVACs last season.

“Everybody just seems to be improving all the time,” Henning said. “It’s a really fun environment.”

Messalonskee swim coach Beth Prelgovisk speaks to her swimmers during a Feb. 7 practice in Waterville. Anna Chadwick/Morning Sentinel

Both Messalonskee teams finished second at KVACs last season, a pleasant surprise for the program. Despite that finish, the Eagles are not putting additional pressure on themselves to have a similar finish over the weekend.

“I think, going in, we want to do our best and place the highest we can,” McDowell said. “We know we’re out there against Edward Little and Lewiston. We just get up there (on the podium) and get our moment.”

“They’re going to go out and swim the absolute best they can swim and see what happens,” Prelgovisk added. “However, we’re very close (in times) with Brunswick. … I’m feeling very good about that. (The weekend) should be fun.”

That said, there is one team the Eagles wouldn’t mind beating.

“A lot of the people I’ll be swimming against are on the same club team as me, we’ve got a bit of a personal rivalry going on,” Arnold said. “We definitely trash talk each other at practice. Especially the Cony swimmers. We lay it on each other at practice.”

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