MARYSVILLE — Rows of swimming records look down over the starting blocks at the Marysville-Pilchuck pool, many more than a decade old.

But the forecast for the column with girls records is grim.

“The thing that’s going to be exciting is how many times I’ll have to change that board,” said M-P girls swim coach Jaci Legore Hodgins, adding that she expects all three relays records to bear names from this year’s team by the end of the season. Records for the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay were all set four or more years ago.

“Number one,” she added, “this team is going to be highly successful academically as well as athletically.”

The Tomahawk girls swim and dive team, which was talented but young a few years ago, is a little older and a lot tougher after several years of deep district meet runs. It also returns five varsity swimmers with at least one state meet under their belts and some more upperclassmen ready for their turn in the spotlight at the King County Aquatic Center at the end of the season. A three-time state diving finalist, senior Sarah Clark returns to one of the state’s strongest diving teams, hoping to improve on her fourth-place finish last year. Junior Marysa Eastman also returns to the dive team from a ninth-place finish at state last year.

The team also returns three girls from the state-qualifying 400 freestyle relay — senior Megan Shoemaker, junior Jewel LeValley and sophomore Kendall Vincelette. The latter two also qualified in individual events.

Other veterans seeking their first trip to state will be seniors Leah Gordon and Melody Travis, junior Amanda Collins and sophomore Geina Malavolti.

“I think every returner is going to blow out their old times at the first meet,” speculated Legore Hodgins. “They’re so excited, it’s been so long.”

But on top of that, the coach has high expectations from several newcomers, including freshmen Hannah Taylor and Rosemary Mohr. The former is a club swimmer who has qualified for the short course national championships this December and poses a threat to some of the aforementioned school records.

The composition of this year’s team is timed to coincide with the Tomahawks finally hosting Jackson, the league’s defending champion for the past several years. While Legore Hodgins won’t predict a league title or dual meet win, she is expecting all-out better performances in competition.

“Our goal is to keep it fun and meaningful,” she said, adding that the girls swim better when they’re happy. Another mantra: the team’s best swim is still ahead of them. “Everyone has a better swim in them for their last swim. If we swim great in prelims, we can swim better in finals.”

The team will test its mettle in some early invites with big competition, including the Bainbridge Relays Sept. 12 and the Mukilteo invite at the King County Aquatic Center Oct. 3. The girls’ first home dual meet will be Sept. 10 against Sehome with league action beginning Sept. 24 as they host Stanwood.

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