Not only was she winning races, Melissa Paione was far ahead of her closest KVAC rivals, especially in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Still, the frustration grew.

Her goal of reaching the national qualifying standard in the breaststroke kept eluding the Edward Little swimmer. The margin of error was perhaps a finger tip. Maybe even less.

Paione described the ordeal as a test of “mental will power.”

The breakthrough finally came in the season’s final meet on the biggest stage of the swim season — the New England championships in Durham, N.H.

Paione captured the breaststroke at the New England championships, winning the gold medal in a school-record time of 1 minute, 9.19 seconds and, most importantly, earning her an invitation to the Y nationals.

“We were pretty much neck and neck the whole way,” the Edward Little junior said of her tight battle with her closest pursuer.

Her winning time was nearly a half second faster than her seed time.

Her margin of victory — a finger tip.

With a New England title on her mantle and a promising future at the next level, Paione is the Sun Journal’s 2011 Swimmer of the Year.

Paione, who placed third in the breaststroke and fifth in the 500 freestyle in the Class A state meet as a sophomore, began this season already in midseason form.

“She started right off swimming the times she had last year and continued to improve,” EL swim coach Scott Morrison said. “She can swim anything that she wants.”

Paione showed off that versatility from the beginning of her freshman season when she placed sixth in the 200 individual medley in the state finals. After switching to the grueling 500 freestyle last year, Paione jumped to the 200 freestyle, in which she placed fourth at states and at New Englands.

Her qualifying times this past season ranked Paione 12th in the 200 IM, 18th in the 100 butterfly, ninth in the 200 freestyle and sixth in the 100 breaststroke.

The one constant was the breaststroke, which Morrison describes as Paione’s “bread-and-butter stroke.” After placing fifth her freshman season, she finished third in Class A the past two years before her breakthrough performance at New Englands.

Making her road to New Englands a little easier was the absence of two of the swimmers who placed ahead of her at states due to other commitments.

“I knew Melissa would have a shot,” Morrison said.

Paione trailed Maine rival Samantha Savaun of Cheverus at the 50-yard split. Utilizing a strong finishing kick, the EL junior pulled ahead late and then held off a late charge from a New Hampshire swimmer to touch first.

An honor-roll student, Paione is a natural leader for the Red Eddies, but she was happy to do her leading quietly away from the spotlight.

“We had a lot of seniors on the team,” Paione said. “I didn’t want the label as captain, but I was happy to help everyone that I could.”

“Not only does she work hard in practice, but she also works hard with the other kids, helping them with their strokes,” Morrison said.

With one year remaining in her high school career and already owning a New England gold, Paione appears to have several options open to her after graduation. She’s already looking at colleges at the Division I and Division III levels, trying to find a program where she feels she will fit in.

“I still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up yet,” Paione said of her search. “I haven’t really narrowed down a major yet.

2010-11 Sun Journal All-Region Swim Team

 

First team

Ciara Ferguson St. Dom’s

Sam Goulette Edward Little

Allie Lewandowski St. Dom’s

Dustin Morris Lewiston

Melissa Paione Edward Little

Ryan Robitaille St. Dom’s

Jessica Soucy Lewiston

Katie Tirabassi Lewiston

Second team

Abby Blaisdell Lewiston

Nelson Metayer Edward Little

Colby Miles Lewiston

Ryan Pare Lewiston

Ian Roy Lewiston

Alex Small Lewiston

Sarah Small St. Dom’s

Peter Tirabassi Lewiston