Vote for the SouthCoast Girls Swimmer of the Year

Readers will help choose the top high school swimmer in the region

Apr. 1, 2026 at 8:03am

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Our readers will have a say in who is named the High School Girls Swimmer of the Year for 2026. Voting ends at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 12. The list has been narrowed down to the most elite athletes in the area, including swimmers from Apponequet, Bishop Stang, and New Bedford High Schools.

Why it matters

This annual award recognizes the top female high school swimmer in the SouthCoast region, celebrating their athletic achievements and inspiring the next generation of swimmers.

The details

Readers can vote for their choice of Swimmer of the Year among the three finalists: Lillian Dwyer of Apponequet, Alexa Lopez Vergara of Bishop Stang, and Serenity Coleman of New Bedford High. The winner will be determined by a combination of reader votes (25%) and the vote of Sports Editor Laurie Los Lee.

  • Voting will conclude at 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 12, 2026.

The players

Lillian Dwyer

A senior at Apponequet High School who qualified for sectionals and states in several events, placing eighth in the 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 butterfly at the South Sectional meet. She went on to take fifth in the 100 butterfly and 14th in the 50 freestyle at the Div. 2 state championships. Next year, she will swim at the Div. II University of Bridgeport in Connecticut.

Alexa Lopez Vergara

A senior captain at Bishop Stang High School who recorded a pair of top 10 finishes at the Div. 1 state championship, placing ninth in the 500 freestyle and 10th in the 100 butterfly. She is a two-time Catholic Central League All-Star.

Serenity Coleman

A junior at New Bedford High School and a three-time Standard-Times Girls Swimmer of the Year. At Div. 1 states, she captured second in the 100 butterfly and third in the 50 freestyle, in addition to swimming on the third-place 200 freestyle relay and fifth-place 200 medley relay. She also helped the Whalers win the Big 3 championship.

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The takeaway

This annual reader vote highlights the exceptional talent and dedication of the top female high school swimmers in the SouthCoast region, showcasing the bright future of the sport in the area.