The Barrington High School boys and girls swim teams finished second at their respective Division I Championship meets last weekend.

The BHS boys team finished second behind Bishop Hendricken. The Hawks scored 475 points while the Eagles tallied 296. Cumberland finished third with 252 points, North Kingstown was fourth with 235 points, and Lincoln was fifth with 191 points.

In the girls Division I meet, Barrington finished second to Prout, which scored 359 points. The Eagles scored 318, while LaSalle was third with 269 points, North Kingstown was fourth with 256 points, and Lincoln was fifth with 255. 

Barrington Coach Sandy Gorham said his teams take a different approach into the Division championship meets. He said often enters swimmers who don’t qualify for the state meet to compete in the division championships. He also does not have his swimmers taper prior to the meet or wear their “tech” suits, which are designed to have less resistance in the water. 

“It’s a much different approach,” Gorham said. “I tell the kids, these meets are quizzes and the state meet is the final exam.”

Gorham said some people have questioned his approach — he said one person criticized him for undermining the integrity of the division championship meet. 

The opportunity to enter some different swimmers in the division championship meet can benefit the less experienced athletes, Gorham said. He added that the league does not provide junior varsity meets.

“I feel bad for these kids,” he said. “I just think these kids should get a chance to swim.”

The Division I Championship meets offered Gorham a preview of what to expect at the state championship meet. He said he expects Prout to put forth a strong bid to win the girls state title. 

Barrington has won the girls state championship the last eight years.

“I told these kids, it’s probably going to be the most difficult state meet in years,” Gorham said. 

The BHS coach said Hendricken will present a tough test in the boys state championship meet. The Eagles and Hawks tied 47-47 during the regular season, but Gorham knows Hendricken’s roster is deep and talented. He said Barrington will need to put forth a tremendous effort across all the events to have a chance at defending its state title. 

Last year, the Barrington boys team outscored Hendricken 402-365 in the state meet. Gorham said Hendricken’s depth in the distance events poses a difficult challenge. 

“Hopefully we can pull something out of the hat,” Gorham said. 

“They know they’ve got to swim fast. I told them at yesterday’s practice… ultimately you have to go in there and perform… you’ve got to prepare yourself mentally, prepare yourself physically.”

The state championship swim meet is set for Saturday, March 4 at the Brown University pool. The boys meet begins at 9 a.m., while the girls meet starts at 2 p.m.