The Lakers are hoping to build on last year’s runner-up finish at state.
The Lake Oswego girls swim team saw the highs and lows during the 2021-22 season.
The Lakers finished just fifth in the seven-team Three Rivers League district meet a year ago, but came back strong a week later and soared to second at the Class 6A state meet.
Lake Oswego is ready for more of the latter in 2023 and appears poised to do just that.
“Our relays will have a good chance of doing well and the team will have a good chance to compete with all the other really strong teams,” said Lake Oswego coach Geoffrey Marsden.
Back from last year’s state runner-up crew are senior Dylan Gustaff, sophomore AnneMarie Vlaic and junior Izzy Yoon. Gustaff swam to victory in the district 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke last year (she later took third and seventh in those races at state), Vlaic won the TRL 100 butterfly and 500 free (and later, placed second and third at state), while Yoon swam to fourth at state in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 200 individual medley.
“Dylan, Izzy and AnneMarie are three out of the four girls that competed and placed second at the (state) meet last season,” Marsden said. “They are extremely hard working and dedicated to the sport.”
The team’s frontline swimmers include: Gustaff (200 IM, 100 breaststroke), Vlaic (100 fly, 500 free), Yoon (100 back, 200 IM), junior Addison Smith (50 free, 100 back), junior Hanna Faroghi (200 IM, 500 free), senior Alana Penoyer (100 free, 200 IM) and senior Carmen Karsonovich (50 free, 100 free).
Newcomers to the varsity roster are freshman Delany Carroll (50 free, 100 breaststroke), freshman Giulia Montaldo (100 fly, 200 IM) and freshman Sophie Olvera (50 free, 200 IM).
There are challenges ahead, however, and Marsden and the Lakers know it.
“(TRL challengers will be) St. Mary’s, Lakeridge, West Linn and Lake Oswego,” Marsden said. “All (of them) have really fast girls and it will come down to how deep your team is this year.”
See the Lakeridge team preview by clicking here.
See the West Linn team preview by clicking here.
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