A swimming coach will face several choices during the high school season. But for Waterville's Bob Johnston, making Megan Rancourt the anchor on his relay teams was an easy one.

"The weight of the team could be carried on her back," Johnston said. "It meant a lot to her to be able to do it."

As a senior this season, Rancourt filled that role for the Purple Panthers, making their 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams the best in the area. Rancourt also led Waterville in individual scoring and was named girls swimmer of the meet after winning the 200 and 500 free at the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Class B championships.

"I like being the last," Rancourt said. "I get pumped up more. You get that extra boost of adrenaline being the anchor on the relay."

For her accomplishments, Rancourt is the Kennebec Journal and Morning Sentinel Girls Swimmer of the Year. Also considered was Messalonskee freshman Emily Clark.

According to Johnston, what made Rancourt so successful was the time she put in at practice, as well as a competitive nature that would surface when she was challenged.

"If you ever saw Megan swim, she kind of would swim to the level of her competition," Johnston said. "If she was racing against someone who was faster than her, she would not let that person go."

Rancourt said she isn't competitive in other sports, or even at swimming practice. But something about the one-on-one aspect of racing would take her to a different level.

"Swimming is pretty much my life," Rancourt said. "I've been doing it since I was 5."

At the Class B state championships, Rancourt finished fifth in the 200 and third in the 500 while also anchoring two relay teams which finished in the top four. She followed that up by finishing eight at New Englands in both the 200 and the 500.

What makes Rancourt's accomplishments even more surprising is that she was not at 100 percent all season. A back injury forced her to cut back her practice time by two hours per session.

"I've had it since I was younger," Rancourt said. "It didn't really take effect until the end of last year. I went to the doctor's and they said to cut it down a little bit.

"In order to prevent surgery, it's what I needed to do."

The back injury will also play a factor in Rancourt not swimming competitively in college, although Johnston feels she could get a Division I scholarship at the right school. Rancourt is looking to study radiology at Eastern Maine Community College, which does not have a swim team.

"I'm not going to swim for a team in college," Rancourt said. "I'm just going to stay competitive and maybe this year or next year, take up Master's swimming."

That level is also quite competitive, and when she does move on to Master's, Rancourt can say she is coming off a senior season in which she met her expectations.

"My goals for this year were to perform well in states, at least get top eight, and top eight in New Englands too, and to win KVACs," Rancourt said. "I feel like I reached my goals this year."

Matt DiFilippo -- 861-9243

mdifilippo@centralmaine.com