Schedule

Date Opponent

Jan. 5 Olympia

Jan. 7 Gig Harbor

Jan. 12 at Stadium

Jan. 14 Wilson

Jan. 21 at Foss

* All meets are at 3:30 p.m.

Coach: Tami Lester-Dame, fourth season.

Key returners: Brandon Dravis (100 backstroke, 200 individual medley), sr.; Justin Slezak (100 breaststroke), sr.; Joe Rose (diving), jr.; Taylor Rousell (50 and 100 freestyle, 100 butterfly), sr.

Top newcomer: Damien DeRego (100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke), fr.

Key departures: Mike Cink (diving), graduated; Danny DeRego (100 freestyle), graduated; Zack Joachim (200 freestyle), graduated.

The boys are back in town.

And in their senior year, they’re looking to make some waves.

Veteran swimmers Brandon Dravis, Taylor Rousell and Justin Slezak all swam at state last year on the 200-medley and 400-freestyle relay teams. Both relays finished fifth.

This season, they’re chasing first — and a record or two along the way.

“We definitely have a shot at that 200-free record up on the board,” said Rousell, who finished the season with a school-record-breaking performance in the 400 relay, and broke the school record in the medley relay earlier in the season. “And we’ve still got a really strong medley relay team.”

Volunteer coach Cliff Rousell sees the trio making a definite impact.

“They’re the core that anchor the team and produce points,” he said.

In addition, he said, “a lot of the senior veterans have been working out prior to the season,” he said. “They’re ready to rock ‘n’ roll.”

Rousell, who said 64 swimmers turned out this season, making it the biggest crew he has seen in his eight years, thinks the program has built a good reputation.

“I think it relates to the success in the boys and girls programs and coming off the Olympic year,” he said. “The coaches and the instructors here at South Kitsap Pool have done a nice job of planting the seed with the sophomore swim classes.”

And the veteran talent helps, too.

Rousell said the seniors’ previous experiences will be beneficial, since “state can be an overwhelming experience the first year or two that you go there.”

Now, they have “a veteran maturity” that they are passing along to their teammates.

“Their senior year I really think is going to be a fun one.”

Newcomer Damien DeRego already is garnering attention as the team’s “utilityman.” In addition to being the Wolves’ No. 1 breaststroker, he also is a good sprinter and does the butterfly well, making him a natural choice for the relays, Rousell said.

“He’s going to be an asset for South Kitsap during the next few years,” he said.

Rousell said among the most improved swimmers are senior Nathan O’Guin, who is “essential” when it comes to scoring points in dual meets, and senior Doug Archuleta, who has been working on his freestyle technique.

On the diving side, junior Joe Rose, a state qualifier last year, scored 222.75 last week against Mount Tahoma, and junior Kelvin Waterman scored 121.5 in the same meet.

“We’ve got some talent and points in our favor,” Rousell said. “It’s going to make a big difference.”

Taylor Rousell said an undefeated season is a realistic possibility.

“We’re maybe not quite as fast as last year,” he said, “but there’s a lot of raw talent coming in.”