When it comes to winning state titles, area boys are swimming for second place due to Rockhurst's run of eight consecutive championships.
But for the girls, pretty much anything can happen.
Parkway West won the 2011 state championship in a battle that wasn't settled until the meet's final race, the 400 freestyle relay.
The Longhorns dominated girls swimming in the 1970s and '80s, winning six successive titles from 1977-1982 and four in a row from 1985-88. But last season was the Longhorns' first championship since 1994.
Coach Allison Zeller enters her second season with a few holes to fill as graduation and Taylor Maurer's decision to swim club will challenge a roster that sports just two seniors.
"This is going to be a fun and interesting year," Zeller said. "We have a young squad, but we're going to be pretty strong the next couple of seasons."
Kate Gately will spearhead the team. The senior is the defending champion in the 100 free, and she swam a key third leg in the state winning 400 relay. She also placed fourth in the 50 free.
Gately enters the season in tip-top shape and will start out swimming the 100 freestyle.
Ashley Rowe, the team's other senior captain, is an outstanding athlete who also excels in cross country. She is well-rounded enough to provide depth in the 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly.
Diver Francesca Giganti returns after placing ninth in the state as a freshman last season.
MICDS' GOESSLING GEARED FOR FINAL GO
MICDS finished fifth at the state meet in 2011 where a DQ in the 200 free relay cost prevented them from moving up a spot or two.
Of the 22 swimmers on coach Kristen Kaiser's roster, none are as heralded as Annie Goessling.
At last year's state meet, Goessling won the 200 individual medley, finished second in the breaststroke and anchored the second place 400 relay team.
"She is really focused on swimming," Kaiser said. "Annie is making the best of the time she has left. It is going to be hard to decide what she is going to swim at state if we are in the hunt to win."
Goessling, a senior, has committed to the University of North Carolina. The early decision has allowed her to devote added attention to her training.
"She is such a huge part of the team," Kaiser said.
The Rams return all of their qualifiers from last season. Diver Nealey Wallis placed fifth at state as a junior. Wallis was actually in the lead through the first nine rounds of the state meet.
Back in the pool, Christine Jackson returns for her senior season. Heading up the underclassmen will be juniors Trey Ross and Masha Podokshik; all three were members of the 400 freestyle relay squad.
Ross qualified individually in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
This is Kaiser's fifth season as coach. A member of the Ladue Class of 2000, she went on to swim at the University of Utah.
"I think our medley relay will be better this year," Kaiser said. "We have a few options to play with. The fact that we competed (at state) with five swimmers and a diver and placed fifth was pretty exciting. It was about making a statement."
LUNDSTROM POWERS PARKWAY NORTH
The winner of the state 100 butterfly last year as a sophomore, Parkway North's Heather Lundstrom is one of the area's top returners.
"Heather made two Olympic trial cuts over the summer," Parkway North coach Bart Prosser said. "She is a dynamic athelte."
In addition to winning the 100 butterfly in 56.15 seconds, Lundstrom placed fifth in the 200 freestyle and was key in the Parkway North 400 freestyle relay team that finished fourth and the 200 medley relay that place fifth.
Taylor Voelker, Dyana Schneider, and Amanda Staderman joined Lundstrom on both relays.
North's Madeleine Wall finished third behind Lundstrom in the 100 butterfly in 57.17.
Also returning is Natalie Grey, who placed second in the state in diving last year. Grey heads a group of six divers on the team.
The Vikings placed fourth at last year's state meet. That was the program's best state showing.
"We have a target on our backs after our finish last year and the girls like it," Prosser said.
MEETS TO WATCH
• Marquette Relays, Dec. 9-10
• Parkway quad, Jan. 6
• Parkway South Invitational, Jan. 13-14
• GAC tournament, Feb. 7-9
