Photo courtesy of Photoworks The 2018 Marshall girls swimming and diving team includes front row (L to R): Alli Kopitski, Mckenzie Enderson, Hailey Brandt, Paige Milstead, Brigitte Appel, Brooklyn Gossen and Maddie Larson. Second row (L to R): Lydia Hurst, Nyssa Bentz, Victoria Coudron, Tera Johnson, Lydia Bader and Kaylie Stucke. Third row (L to R): Assistant coach Kat Deutz, Reagan Brandt, Claire Martinson, Linea Williams, Emma Beavers, Elizabeth Coudron and Alex Larson. Back row (L to R): Assistant coach Blythe Zeug, coach Nikki Axe-Bell, Holland Netzley, KC Boerboom, Madi Harvey, Mansi Bell and Jessica Wyffels. Not pictured: Elsa Black, Gabby Schwartz, Anna Colasso and Ella Saniti.

MARSHALL – Last season, the Marshall girls swimming and diving team had no seniors on its roster and had to rely on a lot of youth. This year, a new wave of veteran leadership is set to take over the pool for the Tigers, as they will be led by eight seniors.

The eight seniors for Marshall are Bridget Appel, Elsa Black, KC Boerboom, Lydia Bader, Mackenzie Enderson, Tamia Hedlin, Gabby Schwartz and Victoria Coudron.

Marshall coach Nikki Bell said she was impressed with the fitness level of her team after the offseason and added they are turning their focus to more intense training sessions right away in the first few weeks of practice.

“They came back much fitter, I’ve heard that comment from assistant coaches and things like that, and most of them are super fit and ready to go. One thing we saw is that we were able to start training right away more intensely than in seasons past,” Bell said. “Primarily when we looked at the Hutchinson results, our relays were faster, individual swims were faster than Hutch last year, so we’re starting closer to the state cuts now. So just taking it from where they are now and not starting from basics.”

The Tigers will also rely on a handful of juniors and sophomores, including Kaylie Stucke, Lydia Hurst and Nyssa Bentz, who qualified for the state meet last year as an individual.

Bell said their goal this season is to be able to bring multiple individuals as well as a couple of relay teams to the state meet this year after just missing the cut on the relays a season ago.

“We’re hoping to have multiple individuals at state as well as the 200 and 400 meter relays qualifying, so having a group of athletes competing as opposed to just one swimmer individually,” Bell said.

Marshall will compete next on Sept. 13 at home against Montevideo at 6 p.m. Bell said she’s looking forward to watching the senior leaders guide the team this year as well as a few specific meets this season.

“We have fantastic leadership; I have great captains and obviously it’s bittersweet to have eight seniors. We’re excited about having a college program next year (at SMSU) and updates to the university,” Bell said. “We’re also doing our alumni meet incorporated with our Senior Night meet on Oct. 26 that we host against St. Peter. We had great turnout on that last year, so I’m looking at having those alums come in and swim again and be a part of our program, so that’s a highlight of the season.”