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They have been working out for nearly three months and they are ready to see some outside competition.

The Altus High boys and girls swimming teams open their season Friday at the Harrah Invitational.

“We started practicing on the second day of school and that gets old,” Linda Wiginton said, who enter her 31st year as head coach. “The competition, that’s a good motivator.”

Here is the break down of both the girls’ and boys’ teams.

Girls

This is the smallest group number wise I have ever had,” Wiginton said. “We need to recruit some girls and we’re are going to have to step it up at these meets. We just don’t have that much depth but I think we will get better as the year goes along. We should make a good showing.”

Two swimmers who placed in the state meet last year return. Senior Chastity Cooper was fourth in the the 100-meter breaststroke and sixth in the 100-meter free style. Sophomore Cassidy Pearl was 5th in 100-meter breaststroke and swam on three relays.

Boys

“I think we’re going to be pretty good,” Wiginton said, “and we will get stronger as the year goes on.”

There is good reason for optimism as several swimmers return to qualified for the state meet last season.

Senior Matt Bowen returns and he qualified in the 200-meter IM. Another senior Josh Wilmes was 12th in the 500-meter free style. Junior Garrett Thompson was 10th in the 100 meter backstroke and swam on the relays.

Wiginton said this is a strong sophomore group. “As freshmen they were the hardest working group I ever had and that has carried over from last year.”

One of the leaders of that group is Matt Cole who placed 12th in the 100 meter butterfly as a freshman.

“We need to go out there and get faster, that’s the name of the game,” Wiginton said.

Thoughts of retirement.

Wiginton was asked if she hadn’t any thoughts of retirement?

“No,” she said emphatically. “I get too bored at home.”

Roster

Girls

Seniors

Chastity Cooper, Ashliegh Downs, Amanda Jones, Brittany Merriott

Juniors

Tera Downs, Stacey Louks, Taylor McIntire

Sophomores

Crystal Cooper, Katie Beth Darby, Bailey Dickson, Stacey Lockman, Mariah Patterson, Cassidy Pearl, Jenna Ripley

Freshmen

Amanda Garland, Alyson Garmon, Lilia Kennedy, Rebeccda Williams, Mandie Willingham

Boys

Seniors

Matt Bowen, Paul Davis, Tyler Fields, Tyler Forster/Menchaca, Nick Turner, Josh Wilmes

Juniors

Jake Fairchild, Spencer Kelm, Turner Kennedy, Garrett Thompson

Sophomores

Matthew Aguilar, Matthew Cole, Tanner Cole, Brandon Lundmark, Jacob Oden, Charles Smith, Robert Spain

Freshmen

Daniel Brown, Konner Croft, Isaac Dyer, Jaiel lee, Ryan Louks, Jaret Nassaney, Ethan Powers, Walker Sacco, David Scott, Calen Stroud

Head Coach: Linda Wiginton

Assistant Coach: Michael Shive

Schedule

November 3, at Harrah Invitaional

November 8, at Wichita Falls

November 9, Duncan, here

November 16, Lawton, here

December 1, Joe Stocker Invitational at Oklahoma City Community College

December 7, Duncan, there

December 14, Mustang, here

December 15, Amarillo, there

January 11, Harrah, here

January 18, Edmond, here

Januar 19, Cassady Invitation at OCCC

January 25, Lawton schools, there

January 31, Area Championships at Duncan

February 15-16 at Jenks