Emporia High girls swimming coach Bob Yevak wouldn’t be surprised if he’s wrong.
Heading into the first competition of the season on Tuesday, Yevak entered swimmers in different events according to how he saw fit based the number of returnees and also based on last season’s results.
But as Tuesday’s home Emporia Invitational nears, Yevak said what he had in mind might be a lot different from what actually takes place at the meet.
“I put who I thought would be our best kids in some events,” Yevak said. “I may be wrong, though. The girls know, if you’re the fastest, you’re swimming.”
Yevak believes he might be wrong because of what he’s seen since practice began two weeks ago.
“The first week was probably the best first week of practice I’ve ever had with a group — boys or girls,” Yevak said. “The difference is that the kids who were maybe our third swimmers in events last year have come a long way.”
It is that depth, plus the fact that the EHS girls return a solid stable of proven swimmers from last year’s squad, that has Yevak and the rest of the Lady Spartans thinking big this season — league-title big.
“We only lost a couple of significant seniors from last year, so yeah, I think we can do it,” senior Hilary Larson said of Emporia’s chances at winning a Centennial League title. “We’ve got a strong group of seniors this year, and our underclassmen will help us out a lot this year.”
It all starts with a core group of seniors, many of whom earned a trip to State last season.
Larson qualified for State in two individual events — the 200- and 500-yard freestyle swims.
She also was part of two of the three relay squads that made the trip to State a season ago. Larson swam with Caitlin McGuire, Whitney Starr and Jennie Loucks — all of whom are now seniors — on the 200 free relay, while Larson, McGuire, Starr and now-sophomore Kathryn Scherich teamed up on the 400 free relay.
McGuire, Starr and Scherich swam as part of the State-qualifying medley relay, along with since-graduated Morgan Goad. McGuire also qualified individually in the 100 freestyle, while Cali Schelling, also a senior this year, went as an alternate.
“They’re the base of the team,” Yevak said. “They’re the ones that are going to hold the team together. We’ll get great leadership out of them.”
But Yevak also pointed to many up-and-comers who could provide depth and competition across the board in all the events.
Yevak singled out sophomores Erika Krueger, Taylor Mason and Summer Wilson and juniors Jade Gaskill and Michelle Thompson as some of the many swimmers who caught his eye in preseason practices.
“A lot of them have swam in the offseason,” Yevak said. “They’re conditioned so much better. They figured out what they need to do and how hard they need to train.”
Yevak also said newcomers like Kendra Clark, Jalen Hollenbeck, Jessica Hilbish, Rebecca Tidwell and Kaitlyn Miller all would contribute this season.
“We’re three deep everywhere,” he said, “and it’s a good three deep everywhere.”
The strength of the EHS girls squad this year might lie with its divers, though.
Senior Hayley Fry returns after a State appearance a year ago, and she will be joined by sophomore Aubrey Armitage, who had a strong freshman year.
Freshman Chelsey Kessler and juniors Carissa Schmitz and Jenika Wheeler make up the rest of the divers.
“These girls are all so much fun to work with, because they’re all so coachable,” EHS diving coach Barbara Clark said. “Their going to be battling every week so see who gets to dive in the meets.”
The Emporia High girls swimming and diving team gets its season underway today with the Emporia Invitational diving competition, followed by the swimming portion of the meet Tuesday. Competition will start at 4 p.m. both days at the EHS pool.