By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
As the three-time defending Wisconsin Valley Conference champions, the Stevens Point Area Senior High girls swimming team know that the rest of the conference will be out to get them.
Without graduated seniors April Burant and Rachel Herder, the Panthers have some spots to fill from last year's team, which dominated the Valley and won the conference meet by 155 points.
"It would be tremendous if this team could mature into a conference champion," SPASH coach George Klingbail said. "Each one of these kids has a challenge to either pick up from where they were last year and for the new kids to step into spots.
"Rachel Herder and April Burant swam so many things well that it will be hard to replace them. Obviously we are the target. These girls have dominated the conference for the last three years."
Seniors Kara Martin and Liz Potter are the top two returnees. Martin finished ninth at the WIAA state meet in the 100-yard backstroke and teamed with Potter, Burant and Herder on a pair of relays. The 200 medley relay was seventh and the 400 freestyle finished tenth.
Martin could compete in any event, Klingbail said. At the conference meet last year, she won the 100 backstroke and finished second in the 200 individual medley. Potter will swim in the freestyle events, with distances varying from 50 to 200 yards. She won the 200 freestyle at the conference meet in 1999.
Other returning seniors are: Andrea Olson (breaststroke), Lyn Eckerman (freestyle relays), Heather Wallner (200 and 500 freestyle and freestyle relays) and Erica Prince (butterfly and freestyle relays). Juniors Hillary Loomis (butterfly and sprint relays), Liz Herder (freestyle sprints and possibly breaststroke and backstroke), Rachel Koehler (distance freestyle) and Melissa Burant are back from last year's team too.
Sophomores Jesse Thompson (backstroke), Megan Golla and Rebecca Potter (middle distance freestyle and relays) spent some time with the varsity last season.
The team has several new swimmers too. Junior Catherine Crosby and sophomores Addy Brown, Erin Fenlon, Emily Olson and Callie Wild could contribute for the Panthers.
SPASH jumps into its season Friday, August 18 when it hosts the Panther Relays. On Tuesday, the Panthers travel to La Crosse for a triangular against Logan and Central high schools.
"We'll be looking for a lot of things in the first two meets so they'll have opportunities to show their stuff," Klingbail said.
"Equally important is that they develop a good team chemistry. I feel that is as important as anything."
Klingbail isn't worried about his team's dedication. He said most of the girls on the varsity team swim year-round. "The large reason for the success we've had is the year-round effort these kids have given to swimming," he said.
Klingbail also praised SPASH assistant Daylyn Hibbard for her work and singled out coaches at the YMCA programs.
"With the work she's done and the YMCA coaches have done, swimming is very solid. I certainly want to acknowledge the work they've done," Klingbail said.
"The high school coach gets the pat on the back, but (the coaches) paid the dues getting them ready for that."