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CENTRAL
COACH: Julie Withington.
KEY LOSS: Mark Warren, 50 freestyle and backstroke.
RETURNEE: Sandy Brault, 500 freestyle.
THE SKINNY: After spending most of last season trying to get several newcomers adjusted, the Bears are hoping to put their struggles behind them and work on their speed in all events. Some swimmers will experiment with different strokes to help build depth by conference championship time.
SCHEDULE: SEPTEMBER: 11 - Double dual with Citrus and Lecanto (YMCA); 16 - at Lecanto (Bicentennial Park pool); 21 - at Crystal River (Bicentennial Park pool); 25 - NATURE COAST (YMCA). OCTOBER: 5 - at Citrus (Whispering Pines pool); 9 - Conference championships (Bicentennial Park pool); 16 - SPRINGSTEAD (YMCA).
HERNANDO
COACH: Judi Decker.
KEY LOSSES: Matt Marriage, freestyle; Robert Campbell, butterfly.
THE SKINNY: Some missed pool time due to rain and other problems made for a rocky start for the Leopards last season. Decker, a first-year coach, is hoping to build on a young team that has shown some improvements in endurance and speed.
SCHEDULE: Hernando has not finalized its schedule. On Sept. 25, a tri-meet is set with Nature Coast and Central at the YMCA.
NATURE COAST TECH
COACH: Phil Bennett.
THE SKINNY: Nine boys have shown up to the team's initial meets, which is encouraging to Bennett. Last season's boys swimming attendance was virtually nil after Nature Coast opened its doors in 2003 and Bennett came in a little late in the season. He is hoping this is the year the Sharks get the program off the ground.
SCHEDULE: SEPTEMBER: 14 - Tri-meet with Crystal River and Springstead (Bicentennial Park pool); 21 - at Citrus (Whispering Pines pool); 25 - Tri-meet with Central and Hernando (YMCA). OCTOBER: 14 - at Lecanto.
SPRINGSTEAD
COACH: Justin Hengesbach.
KEY LOSS: Matt Barry, freestyle.
RETURNEES: Casey Nugent, freestyle; Kyle Nugent, freestyle; Adam Wethington, butterfly and freestyle.
THE SKINNY: Hengesbach is hoping to revive the boys program after last year's team suffered from waning attendance. There is promise in the athletic Nugents, however, and the coach will be testing some of his new guys to see if they can compete in varied events.
SCHEDULE: SEPTEMBER: 14 - Tri-meet with Crystal River and Nature Coast (Bicentennial Park pool); 25 - Tri-meet with Hernando and Citrus (YMCA); 30 - at Lecanto (Bicentennial Park pool). OCTOBER: 9 - Conference championships (Bicentennial Park pool); 16 - at Central (YMCA).
GIRLS
CENTRAL
COACH: Julie Withington.
KEY LOSS: Megan Wakely, freestyle and breaststroke.
RETURNEE: Rae-Lynn Sheffield, backstroke and individual medley.
THE SKINNY: Central has the county's top swimmer in Sheffield, who placed fifth at state in the 100-yard backstroke and ninth overall. Her versatility will be a boost to the Bears, as the program draws in many new swimmers.
SCHEDULE: SEPTEMBER: 11 - Double dual with Citrus and Lecanto (YMCA); 16 - at Lecanto (Bicentennial Park pool); 21 - at Crystal River (Bicentennial Park pool); 25 - NATURE COAST (YMCA). OCTOBER: 5 - at Citrus (Whispering Pines pool); 9 - Conference meet (Bicentennial Park pool); 16 - SPRINGSTEAD (YMCA).
HERNANDO
COACH: Judi Decker.
KEY LOSS: Kennah Johnson, freestyle and individual medley.
THE SKINNY: Losing Johnson will leave a hole in Hernando's roster, but the Leopards can build on last season's young but promising team. Decker will spend a lot of the next few weeks teaching and tinkering with the line-up.
SCHEDULE: Hernando has not finalized its schedule. On Sept. 25, a tri-meet is set with Nature Coast and Central at the YMCA.
NATURE COAST TECH
COACH: Phil Bennett.
RETURNEE: Kali Kingsley, individual medley and butterfly.
THE SKINNY: All-Gulf Coast Athletic Conference performer Kingsley, a sophomore, will help put the Sharks on the county swimming map by increasing her speed in all strokes. The attendance is up this year, and Bennett is excited about the season's prospects.
SCHEDULE: SEPTEMBER: 14 - Tri-meet with Crystal River and Springstead (Bicentennial Park pool); 21 - at Citrus (Whispering Pines pool); 25 - Tri-meet with Central and Hernando (YMCA). OCTOBER: 14 - at Lecanto (Bicentennial Park pool).
SPRINGSTEAD
COACH: Justin Hengesbach.
KEY LOSSES: Sarah Siegel, Sarah Knight.
RETURNEES: Rachel Siegel, freestyle; Sarah Barry, individual medley; Bobbie Brice, distance freestyle.
THE SKINNY: This may be the county's most talented lineup, with depth in all events. The Eagles have the best shot at qualifying for state, especially with improvements from Barry and Siegel. "Everyone has a role on the team," Hengesbach said.
SCHEDULE: SEPTEMBER: 14 - Tri-meet with Crystal River and Nature Coast (Bicentennial Park pool); 25 - Tri-meet with Hernando and Citrus (YMCA); 30 - at Lecanto (Bicentennial Park pool). OCTOBER: 9 - Conference championships (Bicentennial Park pool); 16 - at Central (YMCA).