Prep Swimming Preview: No trouble finding swimmers
It’s too early for Cape Coral High swim coach Dianne Kimble to project how her many talented athletes will perform this season at the regional, and perhaps state level.
This much is certain, though. The Seahawks have shown at August practices that their large group is raring to go.
There are 68 swimmers and divers (boys and girls) representing the Seahawks in the pool this season.
“We constantly have new kids in the water,” said Kimble, who is in her eighth year as coach. “A lot of the kids don’t have a strong swimming background. They enjoy the sport and come out and work hard, and that enthusiasm is contagious.”
Kimble said when official practice began Aug. 10, she considered holding off practice with the first competition still some four weeks away, but team members changed her mind.
“They said, ‘no, no, no, we want to start right away,'” Kimble said.
The Seahawks open their season Wednesday, hosting a meet against Ida Baker and Cypress Lake.
This year’s Seahawks are a mixture of experience, up-and-coming talent and those who just love the sport. Along with Kimble, Ann Smith returns for her third year as an assistant coach.
The Seahawks consistently have been a factor in LCAC, district, regional and even state level meets in recent years, and they’re expecting to continue that tradition.
Senior Christina Todd is a returning state qualifier in the 100 butterfly. She placed seventh at last season’s Region 3A-2 meet and finished 17th in the preliminaries at the state meet, leaving her one spot out of the finals.
The girls’ team also welcomes the return of four-year standouts, Meghan Cotugno and Lauren Smith.
Cotugno nearly qualified for state in two events last year, the 50 and 100 freestyle. Smith is another strong freestyle swimmer, reaching regionals in the 50 and 100 free last season.
Todd, Cotugno and Smith were part of the Seahawks’ 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams that qualified for state in 2007.
Other top female swimmers are sophomore Olivia Langford and freshman Michaela Steakley.
The girls’ team finished ninth out of 24 teams at the regional meet.
“Last year we did really good through conference and districts, but didn’t qualify as many for state as we would’ve liked,” Kimble said.
The Seahawks must replace their other state qualifier from last year, senior diver Carlos Alvarez. The diving team, guided by Robert Schneider, includes returning juniors Jeanette Conrad and Emily Swetlak. Seniors Seth Sutton and Cody Paul hope to provide a lift for the boys’ team.
The Seahawk boys’ team is anchored by juniors Nick Keating, Graham Murza and Tyler Thresher, along with senior Antonio Alvarez.
Due to the FHSAA realignment, Cape moves from 3A to District 2A-10. It’s a 16-team district comprised of Cape, Mariner, Ida Baker, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers, Cypress Lake, Riverdale, South Fort Myers, Estero, East Lee County, Lehigh, Naples, Barron Collier, Gulf Coast, Palmetto Ridge and Lely.
Baker looks to continue its upward trend. The Bulldogs have made strides in the program’s first four years, and coach Sue Postma has a strong group of returning swimmers.
The Bulldogs are competing in diving for the first time with freshman Shawn O’Connor specializing in that area.
“We’ve gotten better every year,” Postma said. “(Last year) we had the most kids we’ve ever had move on to regionals, and we’d like to (qualify) at least as many or more.”
The Bulldogs have three strong and versatile returnees on the boys’ team in seniors Chris Conrad and Ryan Williams, and junior Logan Bradley.
Williams placed 10th in the 100 butterfly at regionals – two spots away from qualifying for state.
The girls’ team features senior Allie Curbelo and Victoria Trujillo, juniors Allie Goldsmith and Laney Leonetti, and sophomores Ashley Cowling and Becca Montgomery.
Mariner coach Dena Uebe, entering her seventh year, said the Tritons primarily have a young team.
“We have a lot of new ones looking to step up,” she said.
Early on they’ll lean on the experience of senior Brittany Langbauer (200 IM and 100 fly), senior Andrew Strohmeier (500 free and 50 free), junior Alex Strohmeier (100 free and 50 free), and senior Jacob Holzapfel (100 breast and 100 free).
The Tritons debut Tuesday with a meet at the North Fort Myers Community Pool against North and Fort Myers.
New on the scene this season is Island Coast. The Gators are competing at the varsity level for the first time after a two-year probationary period where they swam a mixed schedule of competitions.
The Gators are led by coach Cherie Sukovich and train at the North Fort Myers Community Pool.