After finishing 9-4 last season, Falls girls swimming and diving head coach Jill Herzig said a team goal is to equal or better that meet record in 2011.
“We have an incoming group of seventh- and eighth-graders that will nicely complement our older swimmers,” said Herzig, who begins her fourth year as head coach. “We have great leadership in our three senior swimmers (team captains Rachel Adams, Morgan Bruess and Ashley Hasbargen).”
The Broncos have lost four swimmers to graduation, two of whom — Maggie West and Paige Herzig — were on the school record-setting 200 freestyle relay, which placed third at last year’s Section meet. The other graduation losses include Sarah Manka and Tamera Stouffer.
The two returning 200 freestyle relay members include Adams and sophomore Breanna Shofner, who also swim in the 400 freestyle relay, 200 medley relay and 50 freestyle.
Other top returners and their finishes at the 2010 Section meet include: Bruess, fourth in the 100 backstroke; Hasbargen, 11th in the 100 breaststroke; junior Abby Oveson, 15th in the 100 freestyle; and two freshman divers, Clara Wenger and Jessica Hell, eighth and 11th, respectively.
After the Broncos also finished third at last year’s Section meet in the 200 medley relay, Herzig said a team goal this year is to break the current school record.
In addition to wanting to send as many swimmers and divers as possible to the Section meet, Herzig said another team goal this year is to qualify them for the state meet, which no one from the Broncos advanced to in 2010.
“We look forward to a fun, rewarding season for all of our swimmers and divers,” she said.
Herzig said the teams to watch out for on this year’s schedule include Grand Rapids, Hibbing and Warroad-Roseau.
The Broncos open the 2011 season with a home meet at 4:30 p.m. Thursday against Hibbing.
