Coach: Kristy Hartbauer, 3rd year.

Last year: Boys: 4th in Northwestern District meet; Girls: 2nd in district meet, 7th in Region II.

Key losses: Boys: Chad Schott, Derek Hill, Justin Bowen; Girls: Alex Lew, Kaye Whitacre, Sara Fergus.

Key returnees: Boys: Conor Babington, So., Brian Lee, Jr., Andrew Wood, Jr., Connor Green, Sr.; Girls: McKenzie McNemar, Jr., Laura Moss, So., Catherine Legge, Sr., Molly Farinholt, Jr., Brooke Marcy, So.

Top newcomers: Boys: Brian Baker, Jr.; Girls: Erin Jackson, Fr.

Outlook: The James Wood boys have struggled in recent years, but the Colonels possess a pretty impressive 1-2 punch in Baker and Babington.

Baker was one of the area’s best swimmers as a Sherando freshman (he did not swim for the Warriors last year because practices conflicted with his Valley Swim Team Phoenix practices, but he transferred to James Wood this year and no longer has to deal with conflicting times) and Babington had already qualified for states in the 50 free, recording a meter time of 25.81 seconds last Friday in a dual with Handley.

“I’m still getting to know Brian, but he can swim any event,” Hartbauer said. “Conor really worked hard this summer and put in two practices a day. He’s only been swimming a couple of years, so he’s showing his potential and shown how much he’s grown in the past year.” Hartbauer hopes Babington and Baker could lead some successful relays, much like James Wood’s top girls swimmers did last year.

The James Wood girls suffered some heavy losses from last year’s team, losing three individual state qualifiers in Lew, Whitacre and Fergus. But Hartbauer is excited about Jackson’s potential in the 100 back and the sprints, and she thinks James Wood might have a more well-rounded team than last year.

“It was nice to have the stars we had last year, but I’d rather have depth,” Hartbauer said. “And this is a close group that works hard and works well together.”