Last year's pool of talent in Carroll freshman girls swimmers who reached state is now a strong sophomore class, while senior swimmer Corbyn Cormack will look to defend her state-title finish in the 200 individual medley race. The Carroll boys boast a talented freshman class this season, mixed with senior leaders in events as well.
"There are kids who have been to state and been successful and some that are new to the frontier," says Kevin Murphy, Carroll head swimming coach. "We have some that were just a few tenths of a second off here or a place there that have a chance to get to that next level."
Two of the four girls that won state last year in the 200 medley relay return this season, including sophomores Hailey Heldenbrand as well as Cormack. They were joined by senior Ryley Heck. Sophomore Kate Heintz and junior Riley Francis captured the 400 freestyle relay in 2020.
Senior boys Michael Kietzman and Nicholas Swafford, as well as juniors Andrew Zettle and Mason Edmund, were on relays that finished third and fourth last season, while senior swimmers Christian Balint and Jackson Pogue have a chance to return to state as well.
Lady Dragons senior diver Hailey Hernandez will attempt to capture her fourth state title, while boys senior diver Jackson Miller took silver last year.
SEASON RECAP
With the UIL condensing the total number advancing to region and state from 24 to 16 swimmers for health precautions, several Carroll athletes who would have advanced past district stayed home this year. The limited numbers created challenges for earning team points, but the Dragons’ goals remained lofty.
"We feel we're certainly a top three team at state in both boys and girls," says Murphy, Carroll head swim coach.
After both the boys and girls teams took titles in 2019, the Lady Dragons repeated in 2020 and the Carroll boys finished fourth, ending a nine-year streak of earning gold. Both teams performed at a high level during regular season meets this year, taking first at every event in which they competed.
At the District 5-6A meet January 22-23, the Carroll boys totaled 230 points to take first, winning all three relays and every individual event but one. The Lady Dragons earned 215 points to win the meet.
Murphy says his team's goal heading into the regional meet was to have as many individual event swimmers as possible finish with top eight times in the region in order to qualify for the state meet in San Antonio.