COACHES: Boys - LeeAnn Pepe (third year). Girls - Matt Bouthillier (first year).
2004: Boys - Second place in district meet and Citrus County Activities Association champions with 8-0 dual-meet record. Girls - Sixth at district. KEY LOSSES: Boys - Ian Gaffney, Charlie Osterhout, D.J. Carella and Zach Frankell. Girls - Megan Mullen and Katie Wilson.
KEY RETURNEES: Boys - Blaine Basham, Jr., backstroke/freestyle; Pablo Picado, Jr., freestyle; Tyler Parrish, Jr., butterfly; Matt Reichenbach, Sr., freestyle; Brandon Larkin, So., backstroke; Alex Nott, Jr., breaststroke; Tim Wilburn, Sr., freestyle; Rex Wilson, Sr., butterfly; and Michael Lewis, Jr., diver. Girls - Amie Osterhout, Jr., freestyle; Amber Ramage, Sr., backstroke/breaststroke; Katie Bombly, Sr., freestyle; Meghan Price, So, breaststroke; Lisa Larkin, So., butterfly; Laura Bourbon, So., freestyle; and Kristen Pepe, Sr., freestyle/backstroke.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Boys - None. Girls - Skye Pepe, Fr.
OUTLOOK: Boys - The Hurricanes had one of the best seasons in school history and return an impressive nucleus. However, replacing four key members and finding some depth in distance events will play a key in how they end up this time around. "We have some good ones coming back," LeeAnn Pepe said. The leader is Reichenbach. Girls - Bouthillier takes over for Holly Foster as coach. The 'Canes have 21 girls out for the team, so depth should be a positive. "Swimming is not only about good swimmers," Pepe said. "It is about being able to fill out events and getting key points." Overall, the squad is solid in most areas, but distance events is where it must improve. "We only lost two girls from last year, and we still have our core of swimmers," Pepe said. "I'd say we have a pretty good chance at having a good year."
TODAY'S MEET: Springstead vs. Citrus at Whispering Pines Pool, 5:30 p.m.
CRYSTAL RIVER
COACH: Tas Pepito (first year).
2004: Boys - Fifth at district meet. Girls - District champions.
KEY LOSSES: Boys - Matt Washington, Casey Worlton and Kyle Garrick. Girls - Becky Harris and Rhonda Russell.
KEY RETURNEES: Boys - James Hutchison, Sr., freestyle; Julian Palhof, Sr., breaststroke; John Shirley, Jr., distance; Alex McGowan, So., diving; Jeff Arnold, So., freestyle; Glenn Oberlander, So., freestyle; and Zac Preston, So., freestyle. Girls - Sara Bartley, Sr., butterfly/backstroke; Marlina Savage, Jr., butterfly/backstroke; and Yuri Palhof, Sr., butterfly/backstroke.
KEY NEWCOMERS: Boys - Caleb Oakes, So.; and Jack Waldron, So. Girls - Brittni Brown, Fr.; Stephanie Hutchison, Fr.; Danielle Sanford, Fr.; and Kelly Kuczen, Fr.
OUTLOOK: Boys - Pepito takes over as the Pirates' head coach for Tim Holme, who retired this past spring after leading the program since 1992. Crystal River has only nine swimmers on its roster, so depth will be an issue. The Pirates have just two seniors, but the future should be bright with six sophomores. "We've got a nice foundation to build off," Pepito said. "These guys might surprise me this year, too. They are really working hard." Girls - The Pirates have 20 swimmers and are led by Bartley, Savage and Palhof. "I've been real pleased with them," Pepito said of his top returnees. "With their leadership and our group of incoming freshmen, we'll do pretty well and be competitive."
TODAY'S MEET: Crystal River vs. Buchholtz at West Side Park in Gainesville, 4:30 p.m.
LECANTO
COACH: Kelli Abrams (first year).
2004: Boys - Sixth in district meet. Girls - District champions with a 7-0 dual-meet record.
KEY LOSSES: Boys - None. Girls - Amy Rundio and Autumn Siegel.
KEY RETURNEES: Boys - Chris Holland, Jr.; David Rundio, Jr.; Lou Tamposi, So.; and Garret Lemon, So., diver. Girls - Taylor Cooke, Jr.; Chelsea Peterson, Jr.; and Jamie Girdwain, So., diver.
OUTLOOK: Boys - Abrams was the volunteer dive coach for all three Citrus County schools last year and now takes over the helm of both Panthers swim teams. Girls - Cooke, among the area's top two-sport stars, leads the way for Lecanto. Abrams expects big things out of Peterson and Girdwain. Last year, the Panthers dominated with depth and were helped by several cross-country runners. They enabled the program to produce a strong 400 freestyle relay with Peterson, Rundio, Jilian Swartz and Cooke.
TODAY'S MEET: Lecanto vs. Dunnellon at Bicentennial Pool, 5:30 p.m.
