Kevin Hedrick admits Southmont High School's girls swimming team may be in for a tough year.
They're thin on upperclassmen (only three main swimmers) and missing that power scoring punch, especially now their top three point scorers from last year all graduated and in college.
"We're reloading this year for sure," Hedrick said. "We have some depth. We'll compete with a lot of schools but get killed here and there. If we can finish mid-pack in the conference I'll be happy. Fourth or fifth [out of eight teams] would be really nice. It'll be tough to do. But that's the goal."
Southmont kicks off its season today, when the Mounties travel to McCutcheon for a 6 p.m. meet.
With Mishler graduated and now swimming at NCAA Division I Western Kentucky, they will be without a big-time points and inspirational leader.
During her career, Mishler was a four-time Indiana High School Athletic Association State qualifier (placing fifth in the100-yard backstroke last year) and two-time The Paper's Girls Swimmer of the Year.
Southmont also graduated Abby Dove and April Detro off last year's team, which finished 9-6 in dual meets and fourth in the conference meet.
Hedrick said four swimmers - seniors Emily Jarvis and Kelsey Bowman, junior Cassie Parker and sophomore Victoria Burkhart - will lead their group.
Jarvis and Burkhart are likely to be the top two point-scorers.
The veteran Jarvis finished sixth in the 100 freestyle in last year's conference meet.
Burkhart is the up-and-comer.
She finished third in the 100 backstroke at last year's county meet and fifth in the 200 individual medley sixth in the 100 backstroke at the conference meet.
Southmont will also have seniors Kaitlyn Cody, Shelby Etcheson and Susan Ward returning to provide added leadership.
Southmont has 10 underclassmen to go along with its seven upperclassmen.
"We'll be pretty strong in the individual medley and backstroke somewhat. Sprints we'll be OK in. We don't have that super dominant [swimmer]. We have youngsters that have potential. But it takes awhile to develop that. We had no swimmers swim year round. It's hard to compete when you have that. But we'll do the best we can."
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