Fall preview: Swim and dive

Coming off its best season ever -- undefeated Wesco North champs -- the Oak Harbor High School girls swim and dive team is aiming to repeat its success in 2010.

Coach Erika Miller looks to build another title team around seven returning letter winners: seniors Tori Nickerson and Rachel Weinstein; juniors Ciara Hu, Karina Concepcion and Angela Johnson; and sophomores Akasha Trisler and Therese Desquitado.

Hu (100 fly), Trisler (100 back) and Concepcion (relays) competed in last year’s state meet.

Newcomers Kennedy Trisler, Irysh Concepcion and Desquitado should be key contributers this fall, according to Miller.

Miller’s goals are to see at least two relay teams and three individuals qualify for state and an increase in participation in the dive program.

Miller said, “Our returning varsity swimmers are a strength; they know how hard they have to work to beat some of the other schools’ fast swimmers. We have some experienced swimmers who are freshmen this year and who I expect will add to our team strength at meets.”

She added, “We are a much more unified team, with captains Ciara Hu and Tori Nickerson working hard to ensure everyone on the team knows their part on the team and they work together for their success. We have a large number of new swimmers this year. They are eager to go and the experienced team members have already been working with me to help these new comers improve and embrace our team spirit.”

Miller’s comments echo this year’s team motto: “Hard work, loyalty and respect.”

The new league alignment won’t affect the swim team much, according to Miller, because not all Wesco schools have swim teams so the Wildcats will be seeing basically the same competition again this year.

Now that Oak Harbor is a 3A school, Coupeville swimmers Weinstein and Carmen Tonini will no longer compete for the ‘Cats; however, they will continue to train and travel with Oak Harbor.

Contact Whidbey News Times Sports editor Jim Waller at jwaller@whidbeynewsgroup.com or 360-675-6611 ext. 5060.

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