With a huge notable absence, Warren’s swim team opened its season this week.

Warren senior Hugh Harrison is out for the season due to shoulder surgery.

“The seven-time district champion, two-time state medalist and 15-event school record holder needed this swim season to recover from his surgery,” said Warren coach Russ Beyer, “so that he can be ready for his next level of competition. His ultimate goal is to swim for a D1 program. Hugh is and was the most accomplished and decorated boys swimmer in WAHS history. He is still coming to practice every day to encourage and help his teammates.”

For the Warren boys team (9-5 last season), that means two swimmers are left — junior Brody Alexander is a returning letter winner and multiple district qualifier, and sophomore Drake Niemetz qualified for states in two events as a freshman.

“Brody has improved tremendously in every event,” said Beyer, “especially in the 200 IM and 100 Breaststroke. With a taste of states last season, Brody has challenged himself to work even harder to make that trip to Bucknell again. Drake, too, is up to the challenge of returning to the PIAA state meet.”

The girls team has one returning senior in Eliza Brook; five juniors — Samantha Caudill, Katie Krogler, Lexi Paris, Violet Spiegel, and Madeline Walker; five sophomores — Jennifer Giger, Leyna Irwin, Alicia Collins, Brady Caudill, and Lilly Newton; and five freshmen — Leona Hovan, Emma Peterson, Lani Wenzel, Kinzlea Chase, and Gracie Page.

“This year’s Warren Dragons girls swim team has a promising outlook,” said Beyer. “We are bringing back nine returning letter winners and seven of which were district qualifiers. They will be led by senior captain Eliza Brook.

“Brook is a dedicated and hard-working teammate,” he said. “She is versatile in all swimming events, plus, this year, she will add diving to her event list.”

Another big core of the team are the juniors: Samantha Caudill, distance freestyler, IM and breaststroke; Krogler, all freestyles and backstroke; Paris, sprint freestyles, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke; Spiegel, sprint freestyles and breaststroke; and Walker, sprint freestyles, IM, backstroke and breaststroke.

Rounding out the returning swimmers are five sophomores: Giger, all freestyles, IM and butterfly; Irwin, sprint freestyles, IM and breaststroke, and Collins, sprint freestyles and backstroke.

“Seven newcomers will be joining this year’s squad and five of which have past experience in competitive YMCA swimming,” said Beyer. “We have two first-year sophomores, Brady Caudill, all freestyles, butterfly, backstroke and breaststroke, and Lilly Newton, sprint freestyles, backstroke and breaststroke.

“Lastly, we have five freshmen and two of which are brand new divers,” said Beyer. “Kinzlea Chase and Gracie Page will bring their gymnastics and all-around athletic ability to this year’s team. We have had an awesome resurgence in girls diving, and these two young ladies are poised and determined to carry on what started back five years ago.”

As far as swimmers go, Hovan, all freestyles and backstroke, Peterson, all freestyles, IM, backstroke and breaststroke, and Wenzel, sprint freestyles, backstroke and breaststroke, round out the roster.

“If everything comes together as predicted, this year’s team could be in the hunt for a team district title,”said Beyer. “We have a lot of talent and, even better yet, a bunch of passionate swimmers who are up to the challenge. They are all working hard and have been pedal to the metal since Day 1. Everyone is excited and determined to compete and they are putting in that relentless preparation that it takes to become the very best version of themselves.”