A lack of home meets will be Tahoma’s biggest obstacle this season, said swimming coach Stephen Magee.

The Bears only have three home meets this season, and one of those was a last-minute schedule change. But, Magee said since the team is made up of as many seniors as there are freshmen, he thinks some post-league swimming will be in their future.

Magee said the boys are a very “close-knit team” despite their age range and skill differences.

Although they had no state competitors last season, Magee said he hopes they can get some of their relay teams into state this season.

Newcomer to watch:

Nick Ainsworth (Soph.) – who beat Tahoma’s fastest swimmer at the time trials. “He’s someone for us to watch,” said Magee.

KENTWOOD

Kentwood’s coach, Theresa Castaneda, not only has similar goals for her team as Magee, but also a similar demographic.

“We are a young team, so I really want the older guys to step up and show the younger guys what Kentwood swimming is all about,” she said in an email.

Her goal for the season is to get as many swimmers in the pool during league meets and districts.

But, she said it’s not all about winning either.

“It is fun to watch this group train every day and even within all of the hard work they do, they are able to laugh and have fun,” Castaneda said. “That is what high school swimming is all about.”

Returning Varsity:

Seniors Edward Quintos, Jordan Wachter, Blake Rizzo, Cole Hendricks, Billy Thompson and Tjay Mason; juniors Colton Hauer and Immanuel Shin; and sophomore Anthony Mastrianni.

Newcomers to Watch:

Freshmen Noah Yamaguchi,  Grant Millard and Devin Duong.

(Left: Evan Eidal, a senior at Kentlake, won first place in diving at their meet against Rogers last Thursday, Dec. 18. Eidal swims on the team as well. Rebecca Gourley, The Reporter)

KENTLAKE

Jim Tanasee, in his second year coaching Kentlake, said he hopes to simply improve last season’s team record.

He said the biggest obstacle they face doesn’t have anything to do with talent or the pool.

“We’re really at the mercy of grades, illness and other commitments,” Tanasee said. “If everyone stays healthy, I expect a winning season.”

The Falcon’s returning state competitors include Evan Eidal (senior), who dives and swims, and Eli Knobloch (soph.), who can “pretty much do about anything,” Tanasee said. He expects Knobloch to be in the top eight swimmers this year as a sophomore.

Knobloch’s brother, Christian, holds two individual school records in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle. Tanasee expects that within Eli’s next three years he will “break anything his brother has up there.”

Newcomers to Watch:

Freshmen Ben Walker and Justin Woo; sophomores Connor Riley and Alex Phillips; and junior Jonathan Elliot.

They also have some swimmers that narrowly missed the cut off for state last year but are hoping to make it to the big meet this year. Those swimmers include Quentin Knox (senior), Patrick Knox (junior), Colin Bryant (soph.) and Jalen Koon (senior).