For the past several years, there has not been much change on the Baltimore swimming landscape.
In the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association, Loyola has won eight consecutive conference championships and has not lost a dual meet since 1993. In the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland, Notre Dame Prep has won the inaugural two conference titles after taking five straight Catholic League crowns from 1995 to 1999.
But all that could finally change this year.
Loyola, which won last year's conference championship meet by 130.5 points over its closest rival, has graduated seven impact seniors, including its entire 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams. Senior Chris Starr, a second-place finisher in the 50 freestyle and a third-place finisher in the 100 freestyle last year, is the Dons' top returner.
"This is the other teams' best chance in quite awhile," Loyola coach Keith Schertle said. "Last year and the year before was no question. This year, there are a lot of questions."
The best shot at ending Loyola's dynasty belongs to Calvert Hall. The Cardinals took second at last season's conference meet and have several strong returning swimmers and divers.
Junior Tim Marshall is the MIAA's defending champion in the 50 freestyle, and he placed second in the 100 freestyle. In diving, Calvert Hall took first, second and third last season, and senior defending champion Will Williford is back.
"I'm not sure we're going to be able to stay with Loyola, but we're going to give it our best shot," Calvert Hall coach George Kropp said. "We're looking for strong performances in the short freestyles, breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly and diving."
Other contenders in the MIAA include McDonogh, Gilman and Mount St. Joseph. McDonogh may have the most talented team but will once again struggle with depth. Junior Tim Newton, who won four medals in freestyle events at last year's conference meet, leads an Eagles team that goes just 12 deep. Newton won silver in the 500 freestyle and as part of the 400-freestyle relay team. He also took bronze in the 200 freestyle and as a part of the 200-freestyle relay team.
Having lost three top swimmers, Gilman will also struggle with depth, but it will return one of the area's best in sophomore Yuyu Zhang. Zhang placed second in the 100 breaststroke as a freshman, and he will be joined by freshman Chris Morrow, who Greyhounds coach Ian Brooks said will look to make an impact in the backstroke and individual medley.
Mount St. Joseph returns the nucleus of its team, including its top two swimmers, juniors Evan Swann and Steve DeLeonibus. Also, sophomore Tim Ward should be competitive in the diving competition.
In the IAAM, Notre Dame Prep, which took last year's conference meet by 90 points, will still be tough to beat. But the Pirates must cope with the loss of sophomore Meghan Sackett, who transferred to Dulaney (where swimming is not a varsity sport). Last year as a freshman, Sackett won gold medals in all four of her events.
Still, NDP has 14 returning starters, including junior Bridget Kimmel, senior Lauren Taylor and sophomores Katherine Godwin and Katie Hopkins. Kimmel also swept her four events last year, taking the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and teaming to win the 200-medley relay and 400-freestyle relay. Hopkins is the IAAM's defending 100 breaststroke champion.
"We will definitely still be competitive, but it may be one of those years," said a significantly less confident Lisa Wiegmann, NDP coach. "I don't think our depth is as strong as in years past, and some of the other teams have gotten stronger and faster."
Nipping at the Pirates' heels is McDonogh. The Eagles, with 24 swimmers, have their biggest team ever. Sophomore Danielle Spearman is the IAAM's defending 200 individual medley champion, and she placed second last season in the 100 backstroke. Junior Liz Williams finished second to Sackett in both the 200 and 500 freestyle. McDonogh will also get a boost from freshman Claire Hutchinson, who is a fast freestyler.
"NDP is still the favorite, but I certainly have a strong group of girls," McDonogh coach Scott Ward said. "We don't have any dominant swimmers, but we have a lot of depth."
In Harford County, where swimming teams are co-ed, C. Milton Wright looks poised to repeat its overall team title from last season. The Mustangs return 26 swimmers, including 10 who swim with year-round clubs, and are led by junior Patty Rawlick and sophomore Maureen McLaughlin.
In two seasons, Rawlick has won seven gold medals, while McLaughlin took three gold medals in her first season. Rawlick won the county title in the 50 freestyle, 200 freestyle, 200-freestyle relay and 400-freestyle relay. McLaughlin was a part of both relay teams, won the 100 freestyle and placed second in the 100 breaststroke.
