OGEMAW HEIGHTS FALCONS

Coach: Sheila Smiley

2007 Season: 5th place Independent Swim Conference

Returning athletes: Brigid Loar, sr.; Mary Krieger, sr.; Brigid Loar, sr.; Jaci Clark, jr.; Mallory Schultz, jr.; Stephanie Brindley, so.; Morgan Dantzer, so.; Bailey Gilmore, so.; Laurine Shields, so.

Outlook: Ogemaw Heights will try to improve on last season's fifth-place finish in the Independent Swim Conference with a relatively small group of swimmers that includes just four returning upperclassmen.

The Falcons will bring back the most experience in the individual medley and 500-free. Juniors Jaci Clark  and Mallory Schultz both swim the IM, as well as sophomores Morgan Dantzer, Bailey Gilmore and Laurine Shields. Gilmore, Shields and senior Brigid Loar all swim the 500-free, with Sheilds turning in a 4th-place finish at last year's conference meet.

Senior diver Mary Krieger also returns, as does sophomore Stephanie Brindley, who swims the 200-free, backstroke and butterfly.

Four freshmen and a first-time senior round out the roster.

"I think we'll be strong in the breast stroke, IM and 500," says coach Sheila Smiley. "Probably the main goal for the season is for the girls to improve and have fun."

OSCODA OWLS

Coach: Jeff Rush

2007 Season: 3rd place Independent Swim Conference

Returning athletes: Elisabeth Billiel, sr.; Christina Delcourt, sr.; Brittany Kaiser, sr.; Jessica Migan, sr.; Alyssa Peters, sr.; Ashley Rausch, sr.; Kira Tait, sr.; Jessica Ball, jr.; Kim Kaiser, jr.; Megan Lamrock, jr.; Brittany Lynch, jr.; Brynne Raymond, jr.; Mari Businski, so.; Megan Crowder, so.; Katie Killingbeck, so.; Anna Kushmaul, so.;

Outlook: The Owls hope to build on their success of recent seasons and will put a roster of 21 girls in the pool, including 16 returnees.

Heading the class of seven returning seniors is defending state qualifier Alyssa Peters, who finished 38th in the butterfly at the finals.

Record-breaking diver Erika Nolff has graduated, but junior Kim Kaiser hopes to make a push for some of those marks the next couple years. Kaiser qualified for diving regionals as a sophomore, finishing 17th.

Coach Jeff Rush is hoping more of the Owls can get that state finals experience.

"The swimmers are looking to build on last year's success," he said. "We should be strong in the IM, fly, breast, diving and distance events.

"Our goal is to get as many swimmers qualified for state as possible as well as a relay, getting all our divers to diving regionals and (also) advance to state."

If those individual goals are accomplished, the Owls also could make a push to dethrone ISC champion John Glenn, though that would be no small task as the Bobcats nearly doubled up the rest of the league at the finals meet last year.

Peters is the defending ISC champ in the both the fly and 200-IM, while sophomore Mari Businski was second in the breast and fifth in the 50-free to lead the returners. Rush will also be relying on seniors Elisabeth Billiel (fly and free), Christina Delcourt (distance races), Brittany Kaiser (breast and IM), versatile Jessica Migan (distance and sprints), Ashley Rausch and Krista Tait to lead the team to greater heights.