Swimmers work to rebuild squad

The swim team graduated eight strong seniors last year, and this year's plans are to work to rebuild the squad and plan for the future.

Sisters returns seniors Cody Martin, Partrick Krevi, Madelyn Zadow, and Tara Greaney, junior Will Werts, and sophomores Hawley Harrer and Camilla Knoop.

Coach Brittany Morioka said that she hopes Werts will develop more this year as he gets stronger, and focus on gaining power and speed through strength training, not just time in the pool.

The girls team would most likely have placed overall at state this year, however, without the return of Mary Stewart, they will have their work cut out for them. Zadow and Harrer will be swimmers to watch.

"We will be shifting our focus from the girls relay to getting these two girls (Zadow and Harrer) to state individually," said Morioka. "Hawley will most likely be competing in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle, while Madelyn will focus on the 100-yard backstroke, and possibly the 100-yard freestyle."

Seven new swimmers will join the squad: senior David Keeton, sophomore Delaney Newport, and freshmen Brooke Robillard, Ezra Williams, Cymbrie Lagao, and Jackson Rhueben.

Robillard and Newport have both participated in club swimming under Morioka's coaching, which will make for an easy transition to the high school team.

"Brooke and Delaney both come with a strong background, and an excellent work ethic," said Morioka.

Williams and Rhueben are expected to contribute a bunch of positive energy to the team, and are also expected to be swimmers who will emerge as leaders as they grow and mature in the pool.

"All of our new swimmers have an awesome willingness to try anything in practice," stated Morioka. "The whole atmosphere this year is great. It's a building year and our numbers are low, however, this is providing us with the opportunity to individualize everyone's programs. Lower numbers will allow us to really focus in on technique and hopefully build a solid foundation of underclassmen that will carry us in the years to come."