Boys’ Swim and Dive Preview

The boys’ swim and dive team is lacking depth in comparison to last year. This means they have fewer potential state placers in each event. However, all of their best swimmers are very good and are expected to place high at state according to sophomore Benn Schmatz.

Senior Chris Watkins and junior Jackson Grandstaff are the two of the main team leaders according to their teammates. The team knows it is necessary for leaders like Jackson to step up due to their loss of senior leadership from last season. As for the dive team, Brody Arvesen and Cameron Carollo are recognized as the main leaders. Both divers qualified for state last year and are looking stronger than ever according to teammates.

Many of the team’s club swimmers are taking advantage of the new rules allowing a swimmer to continue training with their club team during high school season. Some of these swimmers include seniors David Martinez and Troy Demoss, and sophomore Benn Schmatz. They hope to be in the best possible shape to perform their best this season.

Before the team thinks about state, league is their first goal in mind. They have won the Sunflower League meet for nine years in a row and are going for ten. The state title will require beating their top rival: Blue Valley North. The team knows this will be a challenge, as it is every year, but they will do what it takes to defend their state title by having younger swimmers step up into key, lower scoring spots on the state team.

“Every year young guys step up and fill the gaps,” Watkins said. “As for the goals of the season, winning state is always in mind, but we have to take things slowly to get there. We want to win meets early on.”