Petersburg Pilot -

The Petersburg High School swim team is busy getting ready for the upcoming season, and the numbers are better than normal, according to head coach Andy Carlisle.

“We had 14 in the water yesterday,’’ he said on Tuesday. “They look pretty good, we’ve been hitting it hard already and they have been responding pretty well.’’

The team has senior leadership returning and four freshmen new to the squad this year. Although the majority of the events in swimming are individual, team members often end up pushing each other.

“We have a lot of good positive leaders,’’ he says.

Carlisle says there’s no secret when it comes to the goal of getting team members in shape and ready for the first meet of the season.

“It’s just hard work,’’ he says.

The team is in its third week of practice, and will be headed to Sitka at the beginning of September for their first meet then the team will host a meet in Petersburg later that month. However, for coach Carlisle, the regular season meets are more like practice for the end of the year when regionals and state come around.

Last season, Izabelle Ith and Ben Higgins earned spots at the state meet. Both swimmers missed out on competing in finals, which is something the senior Viking swimmers look to change this season.

“They were first alternates, they just missed finals,’’ Carlisle says. “So they want to get there and be part of the show.’’