Girls' swimming preview: Different people will lead the way

The area girls’ swimming scene will certainly look a lot different in 2023-24.

Seven of the 10 girls who earned Winchester Star First Team All-Area honors last season will not be jumping into the pool this winter, including three of the finest swimmers in area history.

Sherando graduate Taylor Smith — The Star Girls’ Swimmer of the Year in 2023 who placed second in both the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke at the Class 4 meet last year — is now at NCAA Division I UNC Asheville.

James Wood graduate Lauren Masters — The Star SoY in 2022 who placed fourth in the 50 freestyle and 100 free in Class 4 last year — is now at NCAA Division I Old Dominion.

A healthy Grace Morgan would have been a strong candidate to capture Star SoY honors this season after taking third in the 500 free and fifth in the 200 free in Class 4 last year. But the Handley senior is no longer engaging in competitive swimming due to the back issues that have limited her at times since she was a freshman. Morgan had previously committed to swim for NCAA Division I West Virginia University.

Sherando also lost its longtime coach. Joe Knight retired in March after an 18-season career in which he earned eight Winchester Star Coach of the Year awards between boys’ and girls’ swimming over his last 13 seasons. Knight directed the girls to six district titles, one region title and fifth- and sixth-place state finishes his last two seasons. He also led the boys to one district and one conference title. Sarah Keefauver takes over the coaching reins this year.

The Warriors lost seven All-Area swimmers total from last year’s Region 4C runner-up team, but the cupboard is not bare of talent. Sherando still features junior Madelyn Twigg, the area’s fastest in the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.13). She placed 11th in that event and 10th in the 100 free (she had the area’s No. 2 time with a 54.11) at the Class 4 meet. Senior Addy Wallin (third in the area in the 100 breast with a 1:15.39, seventh in the district) and sophomore Ellie Luong (sixth in the district in the 500 free), both Second Team All-Area selections, also return.

Millbrook (eighth in Region 4C) has two of the three returning First Team All-Area selections — junior Kiera Webster (third in the area in the 100 fly in 1:00.03, 13th in Class 4; second in the area in the 200 free, 1:57.83, 14th in Class 4) and sophomore Riley Pillo (16th in Class 4 in the 100 fly).

James Wood (10th in Region 4C) will be led by Second Team All-Area selections Lauren Thompson (sophomore, fifth in the district in the 500 free) and Kallie Gyurisin (junior, sixth in the district in the 100 breast).

Second Team All-Area selection Laura Salley, a senior who was seventh in the 100 fly at the district meet, will help lead a Handley team (ninth in Region 4C) that will have a new head coach in Alisha Hilliard. The former assistant takes over for Tag Grove, who led the Judges for 21 seasons.

Clarke County placed third in Region 2B/1B last year. The Eagles will be led by junior Noelle Whalen, a Second Team All-Area selection who earned Class 2/1 All-State honors by taking sixth in the 200 free and seventh in the 500 free last year. Another All-State swimmer, Maya Pitts, is now living in Loudoun County after transferring.

The following is a glance at each area team:

Sherando

Coach: Sarah Keefauver, first season.

Last year: Second in Class 4 Northwestern District; second in Region 4C; sixth in Class 4.

Key losses: Taylor Smith, Lexee Schellhammer (now at NCAA Division III Randolph), Chelsey Jones, Madison Reed.

Key returnees: Savannah Judy, So.; Addy Wallin, Sr.; Reese Luong, Jr.; Ellie Luong, So.; Madelynn Twigg, Sr.

Key newcomers: Bella Walters, So.; Nya Patten, So.; Alivia Carper, So.; Khadija Hassan, Fr.

Keefauver’s outlook: “Madelynn Twigg and Addy Wallin will contribute significantly to our girls’ team this season. Hard work and dedication during the regular season help prepare our team for any meet. We will continue to be competitive within our district, but with the new region and losses of key swimmers from last year, we will be leaning heavily on our seniors and returning swimmers to be competitive with a new area of athletes from around the state.”

James Wood

Coach: Jessica Barr, fifth season.

Last year: Third in Class 4 Northwestern District; 10th in Region 4C; tied for 18th in Class 4.

Key losses: Lauren Masters, Ashlynn Stacy.

Key returnees: Kallie Gyurisin, Jr.; Annie Hua, Jr.; Lauren Thompson, So.; Samantha Krueger, Sr.; Sophia Caruso, Jr.

Key newcomers: None mentioned.

Barr’s outlook: “We want to build on the work we did last season, and continue to develop swimmers to be able to compete in all four strokes. Kallie Gyurisin, a solid swimmer and runner, has primarily focused on swimming over the past six months. She has been training harder and competing more and I think her additional work and experience will give her an advantage once we get to championship meets. Our girls’ team is hoping to stay competitive within the district. We have a fairly large girls’ team who all seem to be very passionate and team-oriented. They are excited to all have the chance to participate in the region meet this year. The new region alignment will give us some new opportunities to compete with schools that we’ve never swam against.”

Millbrook

Coach: Will Sigler, 10th season.

Last year: Tied for fourth in Class 4 Northwestern District; eighth in Region 4C; tied for 24th in Class 4.

Key losses: Rylee Cooke, Carolina Arias, Mariya Nith, Lauren Rosenthal.

Key returnees: Kiera Webster, Jr.; Lauren Dennard, Jr.; Anahi Alvarado, Jr.; Morgan Holben, Jr.; Riley Pillo, So.; Ansley Pendleton, So.

Key newcomers: Sarah Young, Fr.

Sigler’s outlook: “Our expectations are to improve every week during the season. We look forward to creating an environment for team bonding and school spirit. This environment will help us be competitive at meets and move on in the postseason.”

Handley

Coach: Alisha Hilliard, first season.

Last year: Tied for fourth in Class 4 Northwestern District; ninth in Region 4C; tied for 18th in Class 4.

Key losses: Grace Morgan; Sullivan Morefield.

Key returnees: Laura Salley, Sr.; Kelsye Brown, Jr.; Sierra Campbell, Jr.; Emily Dodd, Jr.

Key newcomer: Shane Kim, Fr.

Hilliard’s outlook: “We’re looking forward to seeing growth and development throughout the team. Hopefully, we’ll continue to have some key individual performances in district and region competition as we have in the past. I was initially concerned that the postseason format was going to be very limiting in how many could participate, but as long as the swimmers get the opportunity to be in that higher level competitive environment, I think it will work out all right. Time will tell.”

Clarke County

Coach: Carol Marshall, 22nd season.

Last year: Third in Region 2B/1B; 12th in Class 2/1 state.

Key losses: Heidi Duncan, Riley Duncan, Maya Pitts, Gracia Montalvo.

Key returnees: Sasha Danjczek Jr.; Kyleigh Goforth, Jr.; Leah Mitchell, Jr.; Kylie Prazinko, Sr.; Claire Quijadas, Jr.; Rebecca Spitler, Jr.; Noelle Whalen, Jr.

Key newcomers: Stella Herndon, Fr.; Lucia Martinez-Barrio, Sr.; Raena McGeough, Fr.; Alyssa Mitchell, Fr.; Solana Smith, Sr.; Eva Westbrook, Fr.

Marshall’s outlook: “I anticipate a good season for the girls. The talent from the new swimmers will help provide some of the depth we’ve lacked in the past. Sasha Danjczek is showing great leadership in her lane to the new swimmers. Reading the set board can be confusing and she is helping to keep them on track. Raena and Eva are new to the sport of competitive swimming and have improved vastly in just a few practices. Both ladies are athletic and listen to our feedback. Stella, Lucia, Alyssa and Solana have competitive swimming experience that complements the returning girls. I believe the girls have the ability to place high at both the region and state level. The motivation is present to put in the work to achieve this goal. It is rewarding as a coach to witness the development of your athletes as they buy into the vision you have for the team.”

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at
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