That's because last year's Knights finished second in both the boys' and girls' state championships. And Pick is hopeful the LNC veterans can build off that success.
"That kind of experience is invaluable," she says.
The Knights are setting out to win it all. LNC's girls are the defending 1A/2A West Regional champions, and those at LNC want to add more hardware to the trophy case.
"We've got the bar set pretty high," says Pick.
Abbey Joiner and Gabi Osterholz return to lead the Lady Knights. Joiner was fourth in the state in the 100-yard breaststroke last year and sixth in the 200 freestyle. Osterholz took fourth in the 200 individual medley. State champion diver Jill Mulveney did not return. She has moved to Canada. But LNC returns other key swimmers such as Emily Hunt and Lauren Davis, and has added Emma Rubel, formerly of Hopewell.
Brian Piccirilli, Chris Cardwell, Brian Davis and Jake Koferl are the top LNC boys. Piccirilli and Cardwell finished third and sixth, respectively, in the 100 backstroke at last year's state meet. Piccirilli won the event at regionals and was fourth in the state in the 100 butterfly.
LNC was strong in all the relays a year ago, winning three regional championships and one state championship (girls' 200 medley relay), and Pick expects similar success this winter.
Hough enters its second season after placing fifth in both the boys and girls team standings at last year's 4A state meet. Huskies coach Tim Queen says that finish was somewhat surprising.
"Going into the state meet, we were hoping for top 10," he says. "As the meet was wearing on, we thought we could do better than that."
The Huskies return a talented and experienced group that is led by University of Michigan recruit Peter Brumm (see story, Page 38). Brumm won the state title in the 100 butterfly last year, with a time of 49.41 seconds, and was second in the 200 freestyle. But Hough also returns a standout in Jack Manchester. He was a regional champion in the 500 freestyle, placed third in the event at states and was fifth in the 200 free.
"He's no slouch," says Queen. "Jack's the real deal, too."
Hough also returns Andrew Botelho, Andrew Petry and diver Harrison Mitchell, who was third in the state and regional champion. Trey Poff is a freshman who Queen sees contributing as the Huskies try to repeat as I-Meck Conference champions.
Payton Schrum, Heather Merritt and Ali Kitchens are the top returning Lady Huskies. Schrum was a state runner-up in the 100 breaststroke last year. Merritt was fourth in the state's 200 freestyle and sixth in the 100 backstroke, one spot back of regional champion Kitchens.
Queen expects Hough to again be strong in the relays, where the Huskies took home four top-4 state finishes.
SouthLake Christian has won the last three Metrolina Athletic Conference titles and is coming off a runner-up finish in the girls' state championship, a fourth-place finish in the boys' meet and a combined runner-up state finish.
Gary and Paula Anderson's fifth Eagles team is a young one that will rely heavily on freshmen and eighth graders.
But SouthLake has leadership in girls Moriah Anderson (100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke), Brittany Bisese (100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke) and Ashton Rotella (100, 200 freestyle). Anderson was ninth in the state in the 100 butterfly last season.
John Baker and Joe Bryant, who are sophomores, are the oldest swimmers on the SouthLake boys' team. Baker was second in the state in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 500 freestyle. Bryant swims the 100 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke.
Erin Burns' second North Meck swim team doesn't have the numbers it has had in recent years, but the Vikings return some swimmers Burns expects to qualify for regionals or possibly states.
Molly Sanborn returns after winning the 4A West Regional title in the 200 freestyle last season and finishing third in the 500 freestyle. Sean Corcoran is coming off fourth-place (100 butterfly) and eighth-place (100 backstroke) finishes at regionals. Other key Viking returners include Rachel Bennett, Chris Jackson and Jonathan Pugliese.
David Haynes takes the reins of the Hopewell program. The Titans will be rebuilding, having lost significant talent to graduation and transfers. The top returning Titans are Tim Nye and Chloe Smith.
