Thirteen seniors graduated last year from a boys team that was 18-2 and a girls team that was 11-8. Only four seniors are on the roster of the girls swimmers and divers and there no seniors on the boy's roster.
Linda Wiginton begins her 23rd season as the coach of the AHS swim teams. She has compiled a lofty 310-78-3 record with the boys teams and 376-119 mark with her girl swimmers.
"We're just young and inexperienced," said Wiginton. "I guess you would have to term this as a rebuilding year. I'm proud of them, the kids are working. Because we have some new ones, it's taking a long time to get them to work out the way we need to work out."
Three state meet qualifiers do return from the girls team. They include junior Casey Daniels, senior Shannon Violette and sophomore Betsy McAskill.
Help could come from senior Michelle John, juniors Ashley Allen, long distance and butterfly; Amanda Collins, free style and butterfly. Daniels will be called on to compete in the backstroke, 200 IM and butterfly. Other juniors include Mandi King, middle distance free style; Leila Rau, breaststroke, middle and long distance freestyle.
Sophomores include Amanda Arceneaux, butterfly, 200 IM; Sara Augustine; McCaskill, state qualifier as freshman; Madison Wetz, breaststroke, backstroke.
Freshmen on the roster are Marin Barnes, Rosetta Ornelas, Chelsea Rainey, Goldie Restorf, Sarah Donavon and Alison Tischler.
Divers include sophomore Abby Allday, junior Heather Combs and senior Amanda George.
.Juniors on the Bulldog swim team are Zack Eicholz and Dan McMahon who are coming out for swimming for the first time. Wiginton said she saw both Eicholz and McMahon in a lifeguarding class last year and saw some talent there.
Other juniors are Donnie Harris, 200 IM, butterfly; and Cody McAskill, free style, butterfly.
Sophomores include Kris Ducharme, back stroke, freestyle; Carl Jaeger, IM, butterfly, breaststroke; Nich Katseres, good athlete who will not come until football season is over; Matt Meier, has been competing in swimming since he was five years old, IM breaststroke. Meier is the only returnee who competed in the state meet last year.
Freshman on the roster are Alex Folker, free style; Eric Lundgren, freestyle; Dustin Ringler, breaststroke; Ryan Warren, swimmer and diver; T.J. Wood and Romero Garcia.
Junior Thomas Oates and sophomore Steven Schroyer will also compete in diving.
The teams opened their season last Saturday at Amarillo. The Bulldogs defeated Amarillo Tascosa 72-22 and lost to powerful Amarillo High by the identical score of 72-22.
The Lady Bulldogs tied Tascosa 52--52 and lost to Amarillo High 72-22.
"I was proud of the start that we had," said Wiginton. "I did see a lot of errors but best the thing was that a couple of them came up to me and said we need to work harder in practice. If they can glean that from the first meet, then that's great.
"It's going to be learning experience. But the good thing about it is that it's fun to see them develop. We'll improve and by the end of the year we'll be better."
The Altus swimmers and divers will host Ardmore and Harrah in a 3:30 p.m. meet at the Altus Schools/City of Altus Swimming Complex on Friday.
Head coach - Linda Wiginton, 23rd year.
Assistants - Chuck Martin, Kris Martin volunteer, diving; Jim Goetz, volunteer.
Roster
LADY BULLDOGS
Seniors - Amanda George, Michelle John, Jessica Smith, Shannon Violette.
Juniors - Ashley Allen, Amanda Collins, Heather Combs, Casey Daniels, Mandi King, Leila Rau, Jessica Smith (manager).
Sophomores - Abby Allday, Sara Augustine, Kris Ducharme, Betsy McAskill, Madison Wetz.
Freshman - Marin Barnes, Rosetta Ornelas, Chelsea Rainey, Goldie Restorff, Alison Tischler, Sarah Donovan.
BULLDOGS
Juniors - Donnie Harris, Cody McAskill, Dan MacMahon, Zack Eicholz, Thomas Oates.
Sophomores - Kris Ducharme, Carl Jaeger, Matt Meier, Steven Schroyer.
Freshman - Alex Folker, Nich Katseras, Dustin Ringler, Ryan Warren.
Schedule
Nov. 7, at Ardmore/Harrah, here; Nov. 8, Westmoore; Nov. 14 at Stillwater; Nov. 21, Duncan, here; Nov. 25, Lawton, there.
Dec. 6, OCCC Invitational; Dec. 12, at Ardmore.
Jan. 16, Lawton, here; Jan. 23, at Duncan; Jan. 30, Westmoore at OCCC.
Feb. 6 at Edmond Schools; Feb. 12, Southern Conference diving, here; Feb. 13, Southern Conference swimming, at Duncan; Feb. 27-28, State at OCCC.
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