With some solid veterans leading the pack, the Turners Falls High School swim teams could make waves this winter.
The Thunder boast a dedicated 10-member unit between the boys and girls teams, and several have their eyes on qualifying for the MIAA Division 2 state championships this winter.
“Going into this year, we’re specifically looking at the number of kids that we can get to states,” began second-year head coach Colin Machat. “We’re looking at a lot of kids having the opportunity to take steps forward and that’s the mindset that we have right now going into the season.”
Turners opens its season Friday, when it hosts Renaissance in a Constitution League meet at 4 p.m.
The Thunder have some familiar names setting the pace, especially on the girls side where the veteran trio of senior Allison Wheeler and juniors Olivia Whittier and Jade Tyler all return.
Whittier was the team’s lone state qualifier a year ago, as she earned a spot on the big stage in the 100-yard breaststroke. She’ll be a key scorer in the event once again this season, and will also be the team’s top swimmer in the 50 freestyle while figuring into the 100 freestyle mix.
Tyler is one to watch in the 100 butterfly again, though she is expected to compete in both the 200 freestyle and 200 individual medley in hopes of giving Turners some more scoring versatility.
Wheeler, the lone senior on the girls team, is penciled into the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
Sophomore Hannah Marchefka is new to the program, as are classmates Hannah Dziedzic and Gracie Rosenberg, who both come over from Franklin Technical School as this winter marks the first time the two Powertown schools are participating in a swimming cooperative program.
“Hopefully it’ll grow as the years go on,” Machat said of the co-op.
On the boys side, senior Cameron Bradley posted a breakout year in the pool last winter where he set two school records in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. The record in the butterfly had held for 31 years, dating back to Wes Conger’s mark set in the 1987-88 season. Bradley, who is looking to swim in college, should be the team’s top scorer in the pool during his final campaign with the Thunder.
Nik Martin may just be a freshman, but he’s got plenty of varsity swimming experience and should once again contribute in the 500 freestyle. Martin, who is also looking to make noise in the 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, was within striking distance of WMass qualifying in the 500 a year ago, and is looking to cut time to get under that mark.
Eighth-grader Austin Sumner and sixth-grader Camden Bonnett will also aim to contribute for Turners this winter.
“With the newer kids, we’re going to try and move them around, have them compete in different events this year,” Machat said. “Hopefully we can make sure they aren’t just doing one thing, that they can float around and we can get some good diversity from them.”