EAHS girls swimming preview

Head Coach: Chris Roberts, first year.

2006-2007 Record: 6-5 overall.

Key Returners: Courtney Bentz, senior, co-captain; Chloe Hockley, senior, co-captain; Erin Kurtz, senior, co-captain; Nicole Faulstick, senior; Caity Fisher, senior; Anna Nielsen, senior; Alison Reed, senior; Kristin Shearer, senior; Kimberly Cisneros, junior; Abby Curtin, junior; Gabriella Pugliese, junior; Kris Roaten, junior; Leah Hayward, junior; Nikelle Albright, sophomore; Layne Bedenbaugh, sophomore; Theta Cleis, sophomore; Leanna Kolonauski, sophomore; Elizabeth Moyer, sophomore; Melissa Norton, sophomore; Vaishali Patel, sophomore; Ellen Schmehl, sophomore; Stephanie Skees, sophomore.
The Bears return a deep class of swimmers, which is very important when enduring a coaching change.
They will be led by their captains, Bentz, Hockley and Kurtz who are all very strong swimmers. Fisher and Faulstick should also have big years for the Bears.
Overall, there’s a lot of talent that Roberts will be able to put in the pool for just about every event.

Key Newcomers: Courtney Distasio, Malorie Finley, Alaina Herkelman, Y. Dorothy Jung, Alyssa Kurtz, Holly Phillippe, Emily Price, Brittany Ricedorf, Angela Vertucci.
The next generation of E-town swimmers will have plenty of upperclassmen to learn from, which will serve them well as they get their feet wet, so to speak.

Key Losses: Lauren Hernley, Darcie Bentz, Christin Hitz, Mallory Newcomer, Alycia Nygard.
Some of the Bears’ strongest swimmers from last year – notably Hernley, Bentz and Hitz – have moved on and will be missed in a lot of events.

What they do well: Leadership.
Roberts said that the seniors have been great through the coaching change, which can do lots for team chemistry.
If the team is positive and ready to move forward, the results will be evident in their times.

What they need to work on: Getting over the hump.
Last season, E-town started in the right direction, in terms of becoming competitive in the Lancaster-Lebanon League. It’s time for the seniors to step up and take the team to the next level.

Outlook:
It could be a big year for the Bears, considering the amount of
returning swimmers they have. Watch for E-town to maybe surprise a few teams this year and equal, or even surpass, last year’s win total.