Dana Powers is entering her fifth year as Spartan swim head coach. Last year, the team boasted co-league champions with Fife and split the dual meets with them. The Spartans also placed second at districts and fifth at state.

The team lost many strong swimmers last year but Powers said with a lot of hard work, she expects to see the girls return to top 10 in state.

Returning to the team is powerhouse Madison Munger for her senior year. Munger has been state champion in individual events for two of the past three years. She was state champion in the 200 individual medley her freshman year. In her sophomore year she was state champion in the 200 freestyle, taking down a 35 year old record in the process. Last year she placed second in the 200 IM and third in the 100 fly. She was also part of the 200 medley relay that brought home the gold. Looking into her senior season, Munger will focus on swimming the 200 freestyle and 100 fly at state. She hopes to begin her college career swimming for a school in California next year.

Alicia Ditty is another strong senior swimmer this year, said Powers. During her junior year, Ditty was part of the 200 medley relay that beat the school record en route to becoming state champion. Ditty plans on working hard this year to improve her placing at state from last year’s twelfth place in the 200 IM and making finals in the 100 backstroke.

There are several new faces on the team this year with a roster of 30 students. Powers is expecting strong performances from freshman Michaelann Wilson; sophomores Petria Russell, Katie Korbuszewski, and Sami Baxley; junior Iliana Kaiser; and senior Kristin Easterly.

Powers said what she enjoys most about coaching is the opportunity to take fresh, talented individuals and help them realize what they are capable of. She hopes the students will learn to appreciate team commitment and goal setting during their time as Spartan swimmers.