Apopka Blue Darters

Players to watch: Steve Ahrens and Alex Burton, who comprised the center of the Blue Darters’ swim team in 2015, should be back to provide leadership this year. Incoming freshmen and transfer students who join the team will get opportunities to prove their worth, too.

Outlook: The boys’ Blue Darters swim team finished 7th at 2015’s Class 4A, District 3 competition, taking 6th in Boys 400-Yard Freestyle Relay, 7th in 200-Yard Freestyle Relay and 9th in Boys 200-Yard Medley Relay. And while they didn’t make a dent at the Region 1 showdown, Coach Jerry Russell will strive to take them further this year.

Boone Braves

Players to watch: Returning senior Travis Stuart is expected to be the top Brave again this season as he defends his title as the region’s No. 1 Boys 100- Yard Backstroke swimmer and 5th overall in the state. Fellow senior Sam Gentry-Mickelson, who won 1st place in 100-Yard Butterfly at last year’s Class 4A, District 3 championship, also returns, as do senior Ryan Bogdan and sophomore Rusty Dagon, who helped the team secure 4th place in 200-Yard Freestyle Relay at districts.

Outlook: Like the girls’ team, Coach Rosalie Creighton’s male squad is looking forward to a bounty of experienced returners. After Boone took 3rd at districts, 15th at regionals and 35th at the Class 4A state competition, she and her swimmers will have their eyes on the top spot.

Colonial Grenadiers

Players to watch: Colonial’s boys’ swim team was small but committed in 2015, taking 8th place in Boys 200- Yard Medley Relay and 200-Yard Freestyle Relay, as well as 9th in 400- Yard Freestyle Relay, at last year’s Class 4A, District 3 championship. The 2016 squad won’t be set till the school year begins, but it’s hoped that some of the previous year’s team will return.

Outlook: Coach Pam Martin’s Grenadiers came in last in the district, but they certainly deserved an A for heart given the program’s small size. Assuming some veterans return and more students get involved, the team could see big strides in the coming year.

Cypress Creek Bears

Players to watch: While an influx of speedy freshmen newcomers would be appreciated, five members of the Bears’ 2015 boys’ swim team are eligible to return. They include senior Kevin Laurie, junior Samuel Ko and sophomores Christian Colon, Javier Hernandez and Antonio Rivera.

Outlook: Erin Stutz, who also coaches the Bears’ girls’ team, can’t be satisfied with her squad’s last-place finish at 2015’s Class 4A, District 4 match. The team also placed 11th in the Boys 400-Yard Freestyle Relay, 12th in 200- Yard Freestyle Relay and 13th in 200-Yard Medley Relay. Faster times from her swimmers could lead to much better rankings this year.

Dr. Phillips Panthers

Players to watch: Brothers Jake and Max Meisenheimer are set to return this season as a senior and sophomore, respectively, as are senior Tyler Haugh and junior Luis Ortiz. Jake was 1st place in Boys 200- and 500-Yard Freestyle at 2015’s Class 4A, District 4 meet, and Haugh joined both Meisenheimers in the Panthers’ 1st-place finish in 200-Yard Freestyle Relay.

Outlook: Coach Natalie Nickson is highly optimistic about the coming season. “The boys’ team is returning all but one swimmer who swam at regionals this past year,” she says. “We are looking to add a couple of incoming freshmen that should make an immediate impact on the team.”

East River Falcons

Players to watch: At last season’s Class 3A, District 4 tournament, Sean Catron racked up 1st and 2nd place honors in Boys 100-Yard Butterfly and 200-Yard Individual Medley, then took 2nd in both at the regional level. He’ll be working hard to rank as the region’s best in both, and he’ll be joined by seniors Carson McHayle and Juan Caceres in leading the team.

Outlook: Although they didn’t make much of an impact at 2015’s state championship, East River’s male swimmers ranked 5th in District 4 and 9th in Region 2, and they’ll be tough opponents again this year. If they can get a few talented newcomers, Coach Kristin Zehnder’s team could even make a run for the district’s top position.

Edgewater Eagles

Players to watch: With only a couple of last year’s players lost to graduation, the 2016 Eagles swim team will benefit from an additional year of experience in individual and group activities. Returning seniors include Cole Moes, Matt Frohnappel and Dzenan Culesker, and they’ll be joined by junior Anthony D’Arco and sophomore Rafael Castellano.

Outlook: “The boys’ team will be successful academically and athletically next year,” says Coach Patty Whitted. In 2015, Edgewater claimed 6th in their district and 15th regionally, but tighter laps from returning swimmers and the right moves from new additions could boost their Class 3A rankings.

The First Academy Royals

Players to watch: The First Academy’s official swim lineup won’t be known till closer to the start of the school year, but many key contributors to last year’s team are expected back. The Royals are also hoping for an influx of new talent.

Outlook: Under Coach Andy Keyes, The First Academy ranked at No. 5 in Class 1A, District 5 competition, and they were also the No. 18 team in Region 2. With the right mix of skill and coaching, they should be able to obtain better placement this year.

Freedom Patriots

Players to watch: Dawson Amico, Mario Illiev, Daniel Perez and Jaiquis Ware are all expected to return as juniors, with sophomore Alex Balaguer also likely to swim for the Patriots. The five swimmers were instrumental in the team taking 8th place in Boys 200-Yard Medley Relay and 11th in 200- Yard Freestyle Relay at the Class 4A, District 4 meet in 2015.

Outlook: With the two aforementioned honors, Freedom’s boys’ team took 9th place district wide last season, but the main group of returning players will be back more experienced and more eager for bigger glories this year. Coach Jessica Bailey will need to find a way to help last year’s top swimmers achieve more while blending freshmen talent into the program.

Hagerty Huskies

Players to watch: Hagerty’s top male entry for 2016 is expected to be John Fulginiti, who’s back as a senior after a strong junior year in which he was Class 4A, District 2’s No. 1 and Region 1’s No. 3 200-Yard Individual Medley swimmer. He also recorded the best 100-Yard Breaststroke time at the district meet. Another expected return is junior Devin Bracci.

Outlook: Coach Rick Duran’s boys’ team was No. 1 in 200-Yard Freestyle Medley at last year’s district championship. Even more impressive was their ranking as No. 6 in their district, No. 13 regionally and No. 24 statewide for Class 4A competition. If Fulginiti and other returners can continue to improve in the coming year, higher placement is possible.

Lake Brantley Patriots

Players to watch: Jhon Moncada, who placed at No. 3 in the Boys 100-Yard Butterfly and 100-Yard Backstroke at 2015’s Class 4A, District 2 tournament as a freshman, will be back this season, as will junior Nicholas Laugen. We’d expect both to take on leadership roles as the team looks to improve their standing.

Outlook: Coach Clay Parnell’s boys’ team ranked at No. 6 in their district and 18th regionally last season, but they were nonetheless overshadowed by their female counterparts. Given that this year’s squad doesn’t have much in the way of returning power players, catching up to the Lady Patriots might not be doable this year, but that doesn’t mean the team won’t give it their all.

Lake Highland Highlanders

Players to watch: Swimmers expected to return to the Highlanders this season include juniors Hayden Curley and Matt Reynolds and sophomore Isaac Jacobs. The three helped the team earn 2nd place in the Boys 200-Yard Medley, 200-Yard Freestyle and 400-Yard Freestyle relays at 2015’s district tournament.

Outlook: With Coach Mike Curley’s help, the Lake Highland boys’ team swam their way to 5th place overall in Class 1A state competition, and they also picked up 2nd place in their district and region. If they can start to have the same level of success in individual races, they could expand on last year’s triumphs.

Lake Howell Silverhawks

Players to watch: The Silverhawks’ boys’ team should have some experienced returners in the form of senior Jerome Sandon and sophomore Matt Schwan. The latter showed good promise in his freshman season, and he’s hopefully been working on his speed over the summer.

Outlook: Lake Howell was Class 4A, District 2’s No. 8 team, and No. 21 in Region 1. While neither rank was particularly noteworthy, it’s important to bear in mind that Lake Howell doesn’t benefit from a large group of swimmers like many of their competitors. As with the preceding season, you can bet that Coach Dan Spellman will work toward helping his team achieve glory for themselves and their school.

Lake Mary Rams

Players to watch: The Rams’ top returner is Ben Whitty, who took No. 2 in Boys 100-Yard Backstroke and No. 3 in 200-Yard Individual Medley before finishing 3rd in 100-Yard Breaststroke at regionals. Other seniors who are expected back this year include Jacob Finegan, A.J. Ayres and Chris McGhee.

Outlook: Under the direction of Coach Paige Baker, Lake Mary’s boys’ team claimed 3rd in District 2, 10th in Region 1 and 25th overall in Class 4A play. Thanks to a talented group of returning seniors, they could fare even better in 2016. The big question is whether they’ll get an assist from incoming freshmen and any other new additions to the squad.

Lake Nona Lions

Players to watch: Senior Maximo Hernandez is the odds-on favorite to lead the Lake Nona boys’ swim team in 2016, having placed 2nd in Boys 500-Yard Freestyle at last year’s District 4 tournament. Other returning seniors are expected to include Pedro Cruz, Jacob Bobet and Andy Ley, and juniors Carson Eelman and Luke MacDonald should also be back.

Outlook: “The swimming team is looking to be competitive again this fall as we continue to work hard over the summer,” says Coach Alex Bennet. The boys’ team placed 6th at last year’s District 4 competition but finished at No. 22 in Region 2. Whether they can take it to the next level remains to be seen.

Lyman Greyhounds

Players to watch: At last year’s District 4 competition, Aidan Snively ranked at No. 1 in Boys 200-Yard Freestyle, and Gabriel Parnell placed 1st in 100-Yard Butterfly and 2nd in 200-Yard Individual Medley. Both should be on this year’s team, too, along with senior Sam Vega and junior Aramis Rivera.

Outlook: The Greyhounds were the 29thranked Class 4A swim team in Florida, as well as 4th in their district and 12th regionally. Thanks in part to the return of Snively and Parnell, Coach Skip Peltzer’s squad has a great shot of improving their rankings this season while bringing home more glory for Lyman.

The Master’s Academy Eagles

Players to watch: Senior John Banilbo will be the most experienced male swimmer in 2016, and he’ll again lead the school’s efforts in group relay races. The Master’s Academy is also always on the lookout for new talent among its students, creating golden opportunities for untested participants to shine.

Outlook: The Eagles’ four-year-old swim program wasn’t in serious contention for any championships last season, ranking at No. 8 in the district and No. 20 regionally, but it wasn’t due to a lack of spirit. This year, the school hopes to advance to the state level and increase awareness of the swim program in the community and student body.

Oak Ridge Pioneers

Players to watch: Senior Andrew Cheslock and Johnathan Rivera should be back on the Pioneers’ boys’ swim team in 2016, along with juniors Ranquel Aquirre Zabala and Joshua Velasquez. Cheslock missed out on 1st place in Boys 100-Yard Breaststroke by just about a second at last year’s district competition, and he’ll be going all out for the title this year.

Outlook: Given the small scale of Oak Ridge’s swim program, it’s perhaps unsurprising that they ranked last at 2015’s Class 4A, District 4 championship, but Coach Richard Febo and his squad would undoubtedly like to make a bigger splash this time. With a little luck in terms of new swimmers, they could enjoy much better results in 2016.

Ocoee Knights

Players to watch: Senior Jonathan Garber is eligible to return this season, as are sophomore Jacob Flores and juniors David Hargrave, Terrell Harris and Rylan Le. All four played key roles in the team’s 6th-, 8th- and 9th-place finishes in the Boys 200-Yard Medley, 400-Yard Freestyle and 200-Yard Freestyle Relays, respectively, at last year’s district competition.

Outlook: Home to a small but determined squad of competitive swimmers, Ocoee fared very well against similarly sized programs in 2015, finishing 8th overall in Class 4A, District 3 competition. With several key players scheduled back this season, Coach Tod Joossens should be able to keep them on an upward trajectory.

Olympia Titans

Players to watch: The Titans placed 1st in their district, 9th regionally and 31st statewide in 2015, and they’ll be trying to catch up to the Lady Titans’ successes this season. Returning swimmers are expected to include senior Connor Kelley and juniors Aidan McConkey and Tyler Dillon.

Outlook: New Coach Stephanie Johnson-Possell has some big shoes to fill in replacing Tom Nielsen, who had led the school’s swimming and diving program to unprecedented success in recent years. However, Olympia Athletic Director Lauren Bradley says Johnson-Possell is a great addition given that she already leads the water polo program and has been with the school since 2001, so expect that winning tradition to continue.

Oviedo Lions

Players to watch: Lions Coach Charlie Rose pegs sophomores Nick Borrazo, Carlos Cartagena, Brandon Christensen and David Carrasquilla as this year’s leaders. He also expects big returns from incoming new additions Mason Herbet, Matt Camp, Ryan Gibbons and Jeremy Rockaway.

Outlook: “Steady improvement over the years will continue,” says Rose. “We are gaining depth and should be stronger than last year.” Considering that the squad placed 2nd in their district and 8th in their region, following through on the coach’s aspirations will make them an extremely strong contender for 1st place.

Seminole Boys Swimming

Seminole Seminoles

Players to watch: Coach Tony Ackerson is counting on returning senior Connor Dacus to be the team’s top performer. Dacus was the state relay champion in 2014, a state finalist in 2015 and National High School All-America in Boys 100-Yard Breaststroke.

Outlook: The Seminoles were 1st in their district, 5th regionally and 5th statewide in 2015’s Class 4A competition, and they don’t expect to lose any ground this year. “We lost some very good swimmers to graduation,” says Ackerson. “However, we still have very good depth and should challenge again for conference and district titles.”

Timber Creek Wolves

Players to watch: Timber Creek has several championship-caliber swimmers returning this year, including seniors Sean Lennon and Alex Noegel, junior Esteban Rodriguez, and sophomore Antonio Galiber. The four teammates were integral to the squad placing at No. 5 in the Boys 200-Yard Medley, 200-Yard Freestyle and 400-Yard Freestyle

Relays at 2015’s Class 4A, District 3 tournament.

Outlook: Although the boys’ team got outgunned by their female counterparts last season, the Wolves still did well, ranking at #5 at the district competition and moving onto regionals. Between incoming freshmen and returning players who will continue to evolve, Coach Elise Catron shouldn’t have too much trouble helping this squad advance to the next level.

Trinity Preparatory Saints

Players to watch: Juniors Matthew Degtyar and Reese Gawronski should be among the Saints’ top swimmers in 2015, and incoming freshman Luke Uttley is another to keep an eye on. At last year’s district tournament, Degtyar placed 1st in Boys 50- Yard Freestyle.

Outlook: Coach Rocco Aceto’s Saints had a phenomenal 2015, taking 1st place in Class 1A, District 4 and Region 2 competition on their way toward placing 15th at the state level. Look for the team to continue their dominance with the help of numerous returning players and new talent.

University Cougars

Players to watch: Reilly Maguire was the fastest Cougar last season, coming in 1st in Boys 100-Yard Backstroke and 2nd in 200-Yard Individual Medley at the Class 4A, District 3 competition, and 2nd in 100-Yard Backstroke at regionals. He’ll be back as a senior along with Christian Delvillar, junior Nawaf Alay and sophomore Nick Cash. All four swimmers helped the team nab No. 3 placement in 200-Yard Medley and Freestyle Relays, as well as 7th in 400-Yard Freestyle Relay.

Outlook: The Cougars were the No. 4-ranked team at last year’s district championship and No. 17 in the region, but ran out of gas at the state tournament. Coach Tim Brewer will work to fine tune his returning players’ routines while bringing new additions up to speed.

Wekiva Mustangs

Players to watch: The Mustangs’ star attraction at 2015’s district tourney was incoming senior Matthew Dewey, and he’ll be back this season. He placed 2nd in Boys 100-Yard Breaststroke and 3rd in 50-Yard Freestyle and helped his team secure 4th, 6th and 7th place in the 400-Yard Freestyle, 200-Yard Freestyle and 200-Yard Medley group matches, respectively.

Outlook: Wekiva claimed the No. 6 spot in district competition and was No. 23 at the Class 4A, Region 1 championship. If Coach Jeff Sharpe catches some lucky breaks in the terms of new swimmers and returning winners, the team could have a legitimate shot at this year’s state contest.

West Orange Warriors

Players to watch: The Warriors landed in 2nd place in 200- and 400-Yard Freestyle Relay at 2015’s District 3 competition, and many of the star players who made that happen are expected to return. They include seniors Gabriel Izaguirre and Alfredo Meyer, sophomore Michael Morrissey, and juniors Alex Robinson, Mason Stellinga and Abelardo Conde.

Outlook: West Orange’s boys’ team didn’t have quite as sweet a season as the girls, but being the No. 6 team in your district and No. 19 regionally is nothing to sneeze at. Coach Cindy Brasch is lucky to have so many returners headed into the new year. Now it’s just a matter of seeing what the freshman class can bring to the table.

Winter Park Wildcats

Players to watch: Arguably Winter Park’s most interesting returner, sophomore Quinn Kelso had the No. 2 time in Boys 100-Yard Butterfly at 2015’s district championship, and he’ll be after the peak position this year. Also expected to return is senior John Burns, who helped the team finish at No. 1 in 200-Yard Medley, 200-Yard Freestyle and 400-Yard Freestyle Relays, as well as No. 1, No. 5 and No. 2, respectively, at regionals.

Outlook: Coach Barry Creighton’s Wildcats were absolutely dominant in Class 4A, District 3 play last season, earning the top spot there before taking 7th in Region 1 and 10th at the state level. Unfortunately for the team, many of the players that helped achieve those heights graduated at the end of the school year. As a result, returning swimmers will play an invaluable role in keeping the group competitive in what should be a bit of a rebuilding year.

Winter Springs Bears

Players to watch: Seniors Jacob Deberry and Keegan McCracken are expected to swim for the Bears again in 2016. Teaming up with them will be junior Anthony Smiley and Eli Kaminsky, among others.

Outlook: The Bears’ swim team did well for itself despite having a small program, finishing at No. 5 in the district, No. 11in the region and No. 32 statewide for Class 4A competition. However, a lion’s share of the players who secured those rankings graduated at the end of last season, so Coach Eric Christensen will need everything he can get from returning players and new talent.