In his third year coaching girls swimming at Tahoma High, Dave Wright feels like it is finally his team.

There are 35 girls on the team who Wright expects to be led by co-captains Rachel Reese, who swam at state last year, Jordan Hoglund and A.J. Davis.

Davis and Hoglund are the lone seniors on the team but Wright sees the youth of the squad as an advantage.

“We’re young and we’re enthusiastic,” he said. “The future looks good.”

Even though he doesn’t have many swimmers now who would qualify for state as individuals he said one of the “strengths are that we’re developing depth in lots of our strokes.”

Last season the Bears finished 5-3 in the North Division, but Wright said he doesn’t focus on wins and losses.

“Every single year I have the same expectations and that’s everybody gets a (personal) best time,” he said. “I want everybody to improve and if everybody improves then good things happen.”

By focusing on swim techniques and helping the girls swim faster, Wright said, those improvements come and last year 100 percent of the team posted personal best times in at least one event.

This season is different, though, when looking at what could happen in the win-loss column as well as the potential for his swimmers to grow as athletes.

“One of the exciting things this year is that our division alignments have changed,” Wright said. “There’s only six teams in our division this year. What makes that exciting is that we have had to go out and schedule some non-league meets.”

A trip to Leavenworth is on the calendar with the opportunity for the girls to swim Wenatchee and Eastmont.

“I don’t care much about the results,” he said. “I care about going over there and having a great time. They will have an absolutely blast.”

It’s another chance for Wright to take a young team in a still new situation and make it his team.

Reach Kris Hill at khill@maplevalleyreporter.com or (425)432-1209 ext. 5054.