Season Preview: Boys & Girls Swimming Entering Year Two Under Dylan Jones

Dylan Jones is entering his second season as the head coach for the Nantucket High School's boys and girls swim teams and with one year of experience under his belt as well as many returning swimmers, Jones is optimistic about his team and what they can accomplish this winter.

"It's nice knowing the kids, knowing some strengths and weaknesses," Jones said. "I know all the other teams. I know how the schedule works. It's hard for me to even know what's in play right now, but I would certainly say a goal for the girls would be to repeat (as league champions). Last year, the boys were really close to getting a relay to make state cuts. That's a good goal right there. So move up our placing in the league and see if we can get a relay.”

The girls will be returning almost all of their swimmers who competed the state and sectional meets last year. Senior Martina Savova, juniors Myah Johnson, Sara Dussault, and sophomore Evie Phelps will lead this year’s core of female swimmers. For the boys, they will be led by senior Jake Johnson and sophomore Eli MacIver.

"I think we can look at all of our returners and say they are going to be names to look out for because to the best of my knowledge, I think everyone scored and contributed last year,” Jones said. “So now at some point, we'll get down and look at, ‘Alright, here's what we did at championships last year. Let's see if we can either be faster or move up a spot in terms of scoring and kind of take it from there.’ That's what's nice about returning. I know where we started, and I know where we ended up last year. Now it's like let's see if we can push that a little bit this year knowing some of the intervals and the sets that we did last year. I want to get them to that a little earlier because I know they're capable of doing it.”

After having just five male swimmers last winter, Jones said he is expecting to have nine this year – which would provide him with some much-needed depth and numbers that would give them two relay teams.

“So we will have two relays but also I think in every event, we will have two swimmers,” Jones said. “So just in terms of being competitive and having people available, it is awesome. I think I said it last year, but I don't think we really got outswam by anyone. We always had someone place first or second, we just didn't have the numbers. So now hopefully with our numbers and that ability, we can take another step forward."

The Whalers will begin their regular season on Saturday, December 14^th on the road in an Invitational Relay Carnival at Sandwich High School featuring many school across the Cape & Islands.