Panther swimmers start Valley title defense Friday
By MIKE KEMMETER
of The Gazette
The Stevens Point Area Senior High girls swimming team is ready to dive into another season and the team is among the favorites in the Wisconsin Valley Conference.
Coach George Klingbail's team will have to fight off Wausau West, Wausau East and Merrill to defend its conference title. The Panthers kick off their schedule Saturday at their own Panther Relays.
"Our number one goal is to repeat as conference champions," Klingbail said. "We did that two ways (last year). We did that with some outstanding individuals winning events and also did that with outstanding team depth."
That depth may be a strength for SPASH again this year, as 49 girls joined the team.
"It's difficult to get them all in the pool," Klingbail said. "These are all good swimmers."
The Panthers are headed by 17 seniors: Katie Bohren, Paddy Browne, April Burant, Starr Cameron, Kate Christianson, Abby Hebert, Rachel Herder, Melissa Hoffman, Erin Iberg, Marie Jacobs, Sara Kuether, Hayler Lazarski, Amy Macewicz, Hillary McFarland, Jacci Menzel, Bronwyn Olk and Nicole Ziolkowski.
SPASH has several juniors that are back for another season, including Liz Potter and Heather Wallner.
The upperclassmen won't be the only contributors, though. Klingbail lost several key contributors to graduation, and he is already noticing underclassmen that are capable of carrying the baton.
"We've got a couple holes to fill," Klingbail said. "I've seen some of the freshmen step up into those positions already."
Many of the SPASH swimmers are helping themselves by joining clubs, like the YMCA, during the offseason, Klingbail said.
"We have a large number of young ladies that have dedicated themselves as year-round swimmers. And that is an added element that makes this team strong," Klingbail said. "We have kids in all four grades that have done this."
Observers who want to see how tough SPASH will be this season will have to wait until Tuesday, when the Panthers kick off their dual meet schedule at DeForest.
"(The Panther Relays) is not going to be a true indication of our team," Klingbail said. "It's almost like this is our time trials. Most of the other schools are looking at it in the same way."
But when SPASH does unveil its 1999 team against DeForest, Klingbail said the team will be without Burant, who is out for three weeks with a broken hand.
"We look very solid in specialty strokes," Klingbail said. "We're going to have to work a bit on the sprinters." But they will come along as the season progresses with specific training, he added.