But winning a state title in the school's second year is a little ahead of schedule, right?

"When the majority of the team is sophomores, it's kinda early," says Hough coach Tim Queen. "They swam with maturity beyond their years."

Hough's girls won the 4A state title last weekend, while the Hough boys took second, further establishing the school's reputation. Winning at the 4A public school level requires topping 98 other teams, a handful of which are quite established.

The thing is, of those Huskies who qualified for the state meet, only two are seniors. So Hough's not planning on going anywhere when it comes to competing for 4A state titles.

"We feel like we can be a top-three team for the next three years," says Queen, whose Hough, North Meck and Shelby teams have won seven state titles. "Other teams may get freshmen and sophomore classes going, but right now, it looks good for Hough."

The two state-qualifying seniors Hough loses, however, have had about as much of an impact on a program as two student-athletes can, says Queen. Peter Brumm and Payton Schrum, who like many of their teammates swim for the club team SwimMAC Carolina, have been the team's year-round swimmer captains for both years (Hough also has non-year-round swimmer captains so everyone on the team has a representative with the coach).

Brumm, who has signed with the University of Michigan, has won four state titles in his prep career, including the 200-yard freestyle last weekend, and is about as accomplished a high school swimmer as you'll find. Queen did not know Brumm prior to him coming over from Lake Norman Charter after his sophomore year, but he had heard Brumm was a great swimmer and a great young man.

"He just solidified that after I got to know him," says Queen.

Payton Schrum, meanwhile, has been a rock for Queen, the veteran leader for the Lady Huskies. Bound for the pool at N.C. State next year, Schrum swam her first two high school years for Queen at North Meck, before both of them helped Hough open its doors in 2010.

"Payton's a real calming influence on the young kids, and without her there, it might have been different," says Queen, of Schrum's leadership at the state championship meet. "I don't know what we'd do without her."

As Hough moves forward and they look to their respective futures, Brumm and Schrum are proud of the strong legacy Hough has already developed in swimming.

"They're only going to get better," says Schrum.

The two say they will be watching from afar.

"I see the next few years, them being right up there competing for state titles," says Brumm. "It's going to be a legacy for a while, hopefully."