Team-by-team capsules for boys’ swimming squads in the Pikes Peak region.

5A CSML

Coronado

Coach: Bob Bell

Returning state qualifiers: Evan Kay, sr.; Will Chaney, jr.; Ben Topper, jr.; Greg Shaw, jr.; Marley Kaiser, so.

Outlook: Coronado moves into 5A competition after placing eighth at last year’s 4A state meet. The Cougars have a solid core of seniors and juniors, and a large group of freshmen could begin making their mark right away. Chaney finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke at the 2014 state meet.

Doherty

Coach: Nicole Hart

Returning state qualifiers: Brady Chewakin, sr.; Tristan Grounder, sr.; Sam Raphael, jr.; Victor Gordillo, sr.; Austin Wiggins, sr.; Nick Kujolowitz, jr.; Trenton Cassibry, sr.

Outlook: Swimming continues to gain popularity at Doherty as the team fielded 43 athletes. Besides having much-needed depth, Hart sees potential among her divers, led by Wiggins. At last year’s 5A state meet, Chewakin and Raphael swam on the Spartans’ 200 freestyle relay team that finished 13th overall.

Fountain-Fort Carson

Coach: John Rork

Returning state qualifier: Collin O’Connor, jr.

Outlook: O’Connor placed 15th at the state meet last year and returns with plenty of experience under his belt. Rork, encouraged by the increased interest in the school’s swim team, noted the progress of sophomore Brenan Bloyd as a potential state qualifier.

Liberty

Coach: Ryan Hogan

Returning state qualifiers: Iain Bisset, Jacob Thompson, Josh Lenzmeier, Ross Barringer

Outlook: Liberty lost its only state placer from last season due to graduation, but Hogan likes his mixture of strong returning leaders with a quality class of freshmen swimmers. Experience and depth might limit the Lancers.

Palmer

Coach: Kayla McGilvray

Returning state qualifiers: Jon-Ryan Conway, so.; Maxx Helfer, sr.; Charley Sturgeon, so.; Billy Wallisch, so.

Outlook: The Terrors are young, with a blend of experience and raw talent, heading into the 2015 season. McGilvray hopes to develop her new swimmers to add depth for the future.

Rampart

Coach: Dan Greene

Returning state qualifiers: Andrew Weiss, jr.; Erik Hensle, jr.; Nikolai McFall, jr.; Paul Wickberg, sr.

Outlook: The Rams are led by Weiss, one of the area’s strongest swimmers who finished 10th overall in the 100 breaststroke at the 5A state meet in 2014. Greene likes what he’s seen out of his relay events.

5A PPAC

Lewis-Palmer

Coach: Alan Arata

Returning state scorers: Cade Bains, Riley Delahoyde, Daniel Deysher, Noah Bettner, Philip Riegert.

Outlook: Lewis-Palmer has a solid core of returning swimmers and will look to build on last year’s impressive fourth-place finish. With Hunter Bains graduated, that responsibility falls on five returning swimmers who scored at state. That experience should help L-P have another solid season.

4A PPAC

Air Academy

Coach: Scott Newell

Returning state qualifiers: Jake Dangremond, sr.; Hunter Doerr, sr.; Michael Loyd, sr.; Miles Coker, sr.; Alan Kim, sr.; Ben Martinez, sr.; Caleb Hicks, jr.; Tommy Baker, jr.; Alex Occhi, jr.

Outlook: The senior group has been part of three consecutive Class 4A state championships and isn’t ready to miss out on a fourth. The competition level within the team drives the swimmers to perform better. As the three-time champs, the Kadets have a big target on their back and know it.

Cheyenne Mountain

Coach: Kate Doane

Returning state qualifiers: Daniel Carr, so.; Harry Buckley, jr.; Jerry Birnbaum, so.; Matt DePeppe, so.; Josh Greenberg, so.; Wyatt Kartvedt, sr.; Nick Kartvedt, so.; Kaiden Kimball, jr.; Garrett Knorr, sr.; Dylan Rolley, sr.; Harry Sheaffer, jr.; Westin Stieglitz, so.; Zach Sutherland, so.; Cameron Blackwell, sr.; Michael Flores, jr.

Outlook: From eighth in 2013 to fifth a year ago, the Indians certainly have the firepower to make a run at their first 4A state team title since 2002. Carr already has qualified for the Olympic trials and will be one to watch this season, as will freshman Kyle Leach, already noted for his talents in distance events.

Discovery Canyon

Coach: Dave Burgess

Returning state qualifiers: Blake Lawrie, sr.; Jonathon Donehower, sr.; James Augustino, sr.

Outlook: A strong cast of returning swimmers – led by Lawrie, a two-event finalist in 2014 – with a solid freshman class has Burgess encouraged on heels of a fourth-place showing at the 4A state meet. Robert Clayton, a strong swimmer in the butterfly, leads the Thunder’s crop of newcomers.

4A CSML

Widefield

Coach: Mary Mullikin

Returning state qualifiers: none.

Outlook: The small, combined team from Widefield and Mesa Ridge, is led by junior Josh Canada. This will mark the third season since Widefield brought back boys’ swimming after a hiatus of more than a decade.

Teams not listed did not report

KEVIN CARMODY, THE GAZETTE