By JOHN S. McCRIGHT

VERGENNES — The Vergennes Champs swim team came out on the short end of a 295-182 final score in its home meet with the much larger St. Albans swim team last Thursday, but Coach Liz Frenette was happy with the progress her team showed that night.

“Our team is very small, but for us we are doing really well,” Frenette said. “We’re definitely seeing improvement” over the course of the season.

As proof, several of the Champs swimmers posted their best times ever in their events. Mateo Palmer knocked a few second off his personal record in the 50 freestyle, Olivia Hawkins beat her previous best in winning the 8-and-under breaststroke, Paige Vincent also had her best time in the breast, and Chris Cantin dropped an amazing six seconds from his personal record in the 50 free.

Frenette pointed out that even many of the older swimmers, who sometimes struggle to get record times during the more-relaxed summer season, are setting personal records.

Although it lost the meet, Vergennes had its share of competitors claiming gold in individual events. Harlie Vincent won first place in three 12-and-under girls’ races: butterfly, breast and free, and Paige Vincent grabbed first in the 14-and-under girls’ fly, breast and free. Double winners for the Champs were Isza Parchini in the 10-and-under girls’ fly and breast, and Austin Burnett in the 14-and-under boys’ breast and free.

The Champs next compete in Essex on Tuesday evening.

Champs coming in first, second or third against St. Albans and thus scoring points were:

BUTTERFLY

• U-8 girls: 3. Olivia Hawkins.

• U-8 boys: 1. Casey Kimball, 28:96, 2. Jeffrey Stearns.

• U-10 girls: 1. Isza Parchini, 23:37, 2. Bailey Bissonette.

• U-10 boys: 3. Max Bicknell.

• U-12 girls: 1. Harlie Vincent, 33.49.

• U-12 boys: 2. Matteo Palmer.

• U-14 girls: 1. Paige Vincent, 32: 68.

• U-18 girls: 3. Abby Bronish.

• U-18 boys: 2. Chris Cantin.

BACKSTROKE

• U-8 girls: 3. Saige Henderson.

• U-8 boys: 1. Zeke Palmer, 24:65, 3. Casey Kimball.

• U-10 girls: 1. Alyce Beauchemin, 22:31, 3. Isza Parchini.

• U-10 boys: 3. Devon Kimball.

• U-12 girls: 3. Casey Jones.

• U-12 boys: 1. Keegan Bosworth, 40:21, 3. Josh Cook.

• U-14 girls: 2. Erika Evarts.

• U-14 boys: 1. Austin Burnett, 35:80.

• U-18 girls: 2. Sarah Dews.

BREASTSTROKE

• U-8 girls: 1. Olivia Hawkins, 24:00.

• U-10 girls: 1. Isza Parchini, 24:34, 2. Emily Bissonette.

• U-10 boys: 3. Devon Kimball.

• U-12 girls: 1. Harlie Vincent, 39:43, 3. Casey Jones.

• U-12 boys: 2. Matteo Palmer.

• U-14 girls: 1. Paige Vincent, 36:56, 2. Erika Evarts.

• U-14 boys: 1. Austin Burnett, 38:87.

• U-18 girls: 2. Sarah Dews.

• U-18 boys: 1. Chris Cantin, 32:52, 2. Chris Parfitt.

FREESTYLE

• U-8 girls: 2. Olivia Hawkins.

• U-8 boys: 2. Casey Kimball.

• U-10 girls: 2. Isza Parchini, 3. Bailey Bissonette.

• U-10 boys: 2. Max Bicknell.

• U-12 girls: 1. Harlie Vincent. 29:14.

• U-12 boys: 2. Matteo Palmer, 3. Keegan Bosworth.

• U-14 girls: 1. Paige Vincent, 27:87.

• U-14 boys: 1. Austin Burnett, 27:21.

• U-18 girls: 2. Sarah Dews.

• U-18 boys: 2. Chris Cantin.