NoteLa Plata’s coaching staff could not be reached by press time to be included into these previews. Once the La Plata coaching staff can be reached, their preview will be printed.

Lackey

Head coach: John Crawford (seventh season, All-SMAC boys COY, All-County boys COY)

Last year: Boys 7-5 (fifth in SMAC, ninth at SMAC championships, eighth at Class 3A-2A-1A East Region championships); girls 5-7 (tied for seventh in SMAC with Thomas Stone, 12th at SMAC championships, 10th at Class 3A-2A-1A East Region championships)

Athletes to watch: Boys IM/free Paul Warren (Sr.), fly/IM Charlie Campbell (Sr.), breast/free Reid Cole (Sr.), free Antonio Galloway (Sr.); girls breast/fly/IM Brooke Rye (Sr.), IM/free Madison Mismash (Jr.), IM/fly/free Amber Rabie (Sr.), back/free Jessi Stickel (Sr.)

Key personnel losses: Boys breast/IM/fly Samuel Paras (All-County), fly/free/back Daniel Nelson; girls IM/free/back Audrey Donahue (All-County), back/IM Gail Rye, breast/IM Allison Fitzsimmons, free/back Kristen Conyers

Strengths: Numbers are in the Chargers favor in terms of swimmer turnout on the team. The program on both the boys and girls sides continues to grow while a skilled core of swimmers has been developed. That core has helped develop new swimmers while setting the proper example of what Crawford is looking for in a dedicated athlete.

Weaknesses: There are no year-round or club-team swimmers in the program while a good portion of the Chargers are brand new to the sport. High school season does not allow for the appropriate amount of time needed to develop strokes and endurance. Despite the large boys and girls teams, the Chargers will be challenged to compete in each event against their upper-echelon SMAC foes. The Chargers have to rely on swimmers to compete in events they are not yet comfortable in.

Coach’s comments: “Last season we had our men's team posted our best record ever and our girls improved their record from the previous several years. I think our swimmers proved to themselves that we could be a competitive team when we all work together as a cohesive unit, pushing each other in practice as well as supporting each other and swimming whatever is needed at any meet. Now that we know we can compete, I think that confidence will begin to grow on both the boys and girls teams.”

Key meet: Jan. 9 vs. Thomas Stone

Dallas Cogle

McDonough

Head coach: Annemarie Simpson (ninth season)

Last year: Boys 2-10 (11th in SMAC, 13th at SMAC championships, 12th at Class 3A-2A-1A East Region championships); girls 0-12 (13th in SMAC, 10th at SMAC championships, 11th at Class 3A-2A-1A East Region championships, 28th at Class 3A-2A-1A state championships)

Athletes to watch: Boys IM Brendon Cox (Sr.), breast Dillon Douglas (Sr.); girls fly Sydney Fuller (Jr., All-SMAC, All-County), free Catherine Kiser (Sr.)

Key personnel losses: Boys S Matt Gorman; girls S Jackie Pleasant

Strengths: Simpson, formerly known as Swanson, said that the Rams have some more numbers than what they did last year and are working hard at the practices. The swimmers are setting goals and working on many different events, so they are looking to fill more lanes this year and continue work on dropping times.

Weaknesses: Though the Rams have more numbers, some of those swimmers are new to high school swimming so they are not used to the high school swimming events and it will be a big transition for them.

Coach’s comments: “I am proud of the work ethic of this team and hope that they continue to hard work throughout the season. We are looking for each swimmer to set individual goals for themselves and continue to drop times throughout the season.”

Key meets: Dec. 18 vs. Calvert and Thomas Stone at Lackey pool; Feb. 1 vs. Lackey

AJ MASON

North Point

Head coach: Jeff Rivenburg (sixth season, All-County girls COY)

Last year: Boys 11-1 (runner-up in SMAC, tied Leonardtown for runner-up at SMAC championships, fourth at Class 4A-3A East Region championships, 24th at Class 4A-3A state championships); girls 11-1 (runner-up in SMAC, runner-up at SMAC championships, sixth at Class 4A-3A East Region championships)

Athletes to watch: Boys S Jonathan Mitchell (Sr., All-SMAC, All-County AOY), S Austin Fisher (Sr., All-SMAC,All-County), breast Ricardo Summers (Sr., All-SMAC, All-County), free Nick Essing (Jr., All-County); girls Free/IM Noemi Aquero (So., All-SMAC, All-County), breast Maddie Young (Sr.), S Madison Zabiegalski (Sr., All-SMAC, All-County), D/S Ashley Holt (Sr., All-SMAC,All-County)

Key personnel losses: Boys breast Jeff Bell (All-SMAC, All-County), fly Logan Hare; girls back/medley Kendall McMillen (All-County)

Strengths: Size is a big facet that the Eagles will have this season. Rivenburg said that they have more kids than last year on both teams and the senior boys and girls have a solid skill set and some big meet experience. With strong returning swimmers, the Eagles want to make a push in dual meets and the SMAC and region championships yet again.

Weaknesses: The Eagles kept a lot of newcomers this year and they will help out a lot this year. A weakness is the coach not knowing well enough yet to best utilize them, but as the season progresses, he hopes to figure that out very quickly.

Coach’s comments: “I always have high expectations for North Point swimming in the pool and in the classroom that never changes. I think we can give any team in the conference a tough meet.”

Key meets: Jan. 9 vs. Northern, Jan. 16 vs. Leonardtown at College of Southern Maryland Leonardtown campus pool

AJ MASON

Thomas Stone

Head coach: Patrick O’Leary (third season)

Last year: Boys 1-11 (12th in SMAC, 11th at SMAC championships, ninth at Class 3A-2A-1A East Region championships); girls 5-7 (tied for seventh in SMAC with Lackey, sixth at SMAC championships, fifth at Class 3A-2A-1A East Region championships, 20th at Class 3A-2A-1A state championships)

Athletes to watch: Boys Josh Linsmeier (Sr.), McKay Stevens (Jr.); girls Amber Sandy (Jr., All-SMAC), Rachel Pritchett (Jr., All-SMAC), Taylor Webber (Jr., All-SMAC), Taylor Stark (Jr.), Alexis Rossetti (Sr.), Amina Gauff (Jr.)

Key personnel losses: Girls Anise Foreman (All-SMAC, All-County), Spencer Bailey

Strengths: O’Leary is happy with the strength of the junior class. With only one senior, the five strong junior girls who have been together since their freshman year are going to be relied upon for leadership. O’Leary said that they have been improving every year and that he sees them improving this year as well and that it will be important for them to stick together and lead the team as a group. On the boys side, O’Leary will look to his freshmen and their maturity level.

Weaknesses: There are a lot of new faces this year who have never competed in swimming before. O’Leary said the team has a lot to do before the end of the season, but he thinks they will rise to the occasion and will be ready to swim fast for the SMAC meet.

Coach’s comments: “We have a few freshmen who look to contribute immediately to the team. We have a lot of new swimmers and most of our seniors this year. I am counting on their age to keep them motivated and focused all season. With a lot of new faces on the team, we look to get the swimmers up to speed as quickly as possible so they are able to compete in meets. As a coaching staff, we are looking forward to another great year with lots of fast times across the board.”

Key meets: Dec. 14 vs. Chopticon and North Point at Lackey pool, Jan. 9 at Lackey

TAMMY SHOWALTER

Westlake

Head coach: Sean Lloyd (first season)

Last year: Boys 0-12 (13th in SMAC, 12th at SMAC championships, 10th at Class 3A-2A-1A East Region championships); girls 2-9-1 (11th in SMAC, ninth at SMAC championships, 12th at Class 3A-2A-1A East Region championships)

Athletes to watch: Boys S Justin Sherard (Sr.), D Bryce Jones (Sr.), S/breast Alex Patton (Fr.); girls IM/fly Susan Duncan (Jr.), back Natalie Brammer (So.)

Key personnel losses: HC Matt Helming; boys free/breast JP McCool, free Parker Labrie; girls D Allison Duncan, D Emily Hawes, breast Leigh Kitzmiller

Strengths: The Wolverines will bring some experienced leadership, according to Lloyd, who replaces Helming after he held the post the last eight seasons. Thus far, the team has a strong work ethic and wants to get better every day. The boys want to rebound from having a winless season a year ago and the girls want to improve on its two-win season.

Weaknesses: The lack of depth on the team will be an issue for the Wolverines and there are a lot of new swimmers in the program who don’t have pool experience to compete within the SMAC ranks as of yet.

Coach’s comments: “With more than half the team having no prior competitive experience, Westlake is a season of rebuilding and developing individual skills and technique. While a lack of depth may prevent the team from being competitive in the overall score, several athletes are looking to turn heads in individual and relay events.”

Key meets: Dec. 12 vs. North Point and Patuxent at Lackey pool, Jan. 11 vs. Thomas Stone at North Point pool

AJ MASON