Chopticon

Head coach: Shammy Donato (fifth season)

Last year: Boys 4-8 (tied for ninth with Great Mills, 10th at SMAC championships, 13th at Class 4A-3A East Region championships) girls 3-9 (10th in SMAC, eighth at SMAC championships, eighth at Class 4A-3A East Region championships)

Athletes to watch: Girls Samantha Barbaris (Jr., All-County), Kristina Cole (So.)

Key personnel losses: Boys Austin Dell'Acqua, Dustin Van De Veerdonk, Zach Rosenfield; girls Ashley Warren

Strengths: Donato said that her group of swimmers have a strong sense of camaraderie and the team is not surrounded with animosity. She went on to explain that due to this, the older swimmers have taken the younger swimmers under their wings and are progressing.

Donato also mentioned that the team has been practicing at a high level and, “with heart and determination.” She mentions the work ethic in practice will not only help them in the pool individually, but help the bonding continue amongst the team.

Weaknesses: Donato mentioned two aspects of the team she has noticed may be a concern coming into the season, numbers and youth. She mentioned that the low number of swimmers will show up when facing a team with over 50 swimmers.

Coach’s comments: “Our mission is to focus on each individual swim, learn from it and do what we can to make it better. … I expect the team to work hard, have fun and never give up.”

Key meets: Jan. 4 vs. McDonough and Huntingtown at Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center, Prince Frederick, Jan. 23 vs. Great Mills at College of Southern Maryland Leonardtown campus pool, Jan. 30 vs. Leonardtown at College of Southern Maryland Leonardtown campus pool

James A. McCray III

Great Mills

Head coach: Troy Kroll (first season)

Last year: Boys 4-8 (tied for ninth in SMAC with Chopticon, seventh at SMAC championships, 11th at Class 4A-3A East Region championships); girls 7-5 (sixth in SMAC, seventh at SMAC championships, 13th at Class 4A-3A East Region championships)

Athletes to watch: Boys Matt Eastburg (Sr., All-County), Kyle Kilgore (Sr., All-County), Noah Wichrowski (Sr., All-County), Max Lucas (So., All-County), Connor Alsheimer (Jr., All-County), Devin Kimmey (Jr., All-County), Patrick Offenbacher (So.); girls Hannah Simmerman (So., All-County, Shannon Mesmer (So., All-County), Kristen Mesmer (Jr., All-County), Caitlyn Adams (Sr., All-County), Audrey Krawczyk (Fr.)

Key personnel loss: HC Caroline Dukich

Strengths: Kroll said that not one swimmer stands above the other and that each swimmer is on the same page. With that, the equal talent brings a sense of family to the team in terms of teammates taking care of teammates. That atmosphere is an important factor in building a successful season and program.

Weaknesses: Kroll said he was not necessarily worried about anything coming into the season or thus far. He said other than a flu bug that went around during the preseason, there are no glaring concerns.

Coach’s comments: “I want them to stay together as a team through the first year. I want to improve their SMAC performance and get some of them in finals at SMAC and make a splash there. I would like to see if we can get [through] regionals and to states and try to crack that open a little bit.”

Key meets: Dec. 12 vs. Huntingtown at College of Southern Leonardtown campus pool, Jan. 18 vs. Leonardtown and Thomas Stone at Lackey pool, Jan. 23 at Chopticon at College of Southern Maryland Leonardtown campus pool

JAMES A. McCRAY III

Leonardtown

Head coach: Chuck Jacobs (fourth season, All-County boys COY, All-County girls COY)

Last year: Boys 12-0 (SMAC regular season champion, tied for runner-up at SMAC championships with North Point, third at Class 4A-3A East Region championships); Girls 12-0 (SMAC regular season champion, SMAC championships champion, third at Class 4A-3A East Region championships, 14th at Class 4A-3A state championships)

Athletes to watch: Boys Brendan Lessel (Sr., All-County), Brennan Williams (Sr., All-County), Caleb Kaslik (So., All-County), Taylor Osvatics (So., All-County), Mike Kaslik (Fr.); girls Mairyn Branaman (Jr., All-SMAC MOP, All-County AOY), Eden Mallory (Sr., All-SMAC, All-County), Michelle Wood (Jr., All-SMAC, All-County), Rachel Aaron (Jr.), Adrianna Kamosa (Sr.), Elizabeth Kamosa (Sr.), Laurel Kamosa (Sr.)

Key personnel losses: Boys Nick Crescini (All-SMAC, All-County COY), Austin Fagan (All-SMAC, All-County), Wesley Morgan (All-County); girls Jaime Branaman (All-SMAC, All-County), Nikita Raley (All-County),

Strengths: Jacobs mentions the strength is found in the kids and their attitudes regarding swimming and academics. He said that the team works through the season with high levels of commitment and high levels of honesty. With that, he said that is what makes both boys and girls teams successful.

Weaknesses: Jacobs mentioned that he has a total number of 70-plus kids on the swimming list this year, which is a bonus with the transitional school that Leonardtown can be with military kids. He said that having a kid for four years makes him and his staff happy.

Coach’s comments: “This year is probably going to be our toughest year, mainly because of the differences that we see on both the boys and girls side. Last year should have been a tricky one for the boys, but the boys really surprised me, which is absolutely awesome. The ladies are consistently strong and, this year, we have a big, young group being led by a bunch of fun seniors that I think will keep the tradition going.”

Key meets: Dec. 7 vs. Huntingtown at Lackey pool, Jan. 16 vs. North Point at College of Southern Maryland Leonardtown campus pool, Jan. 18 vs. Great Mills and Thomas Stone at Lackey pool, Jan. 30 at Chopticon at College of Southern Maryland Leonardtown campus pool

JAMES A. McCRAY III