Turlock and Pitman high’s swimmers and divers are making waves as they prepare for another competitive season in the Central California Conference.
Turlock is grooming a young and talented crop of swimmers who will compliment the experience of its returners on the boys side while Pitman, with first year head coach Kim Corgiat at the helm, plans on making a serious run at league and sections with its girls team.
The Bulldogs are excited with the combination of talent and experience in the pool and plan on using that enthusiasm to improve on last season’s average showing.
“We got a young crowd this year, but that’s okay,” Turlock girls head coach Sonja Raynes said. “The young ones we have are powerful and strong and I think they’ll do well and be competitive with the whole league.”
On the girls side, swimmers Kristine Groteguth, Haley Raynes, Holly Tinley, and Roxanne Abrams are expected to lead the Bulldogs, particularly in the 4x1 relay. As for the boys, swimmers Matt Watling, Patrick O’Connor, CJ Cossey, Darrio Torres, and Zach Gliden will be Turlock’s leaders this season — and potentially in the seasons to come.
“We have a very young team and I’m guessing in the next coming years we’re going to make a very serious run,” Turlock’s boys head coach Erich Richter said. “We have some serious contenders.”
Last season the Pride girls fared much better than the boys in the water. For Pitman’s girls, Cameron Bishop and Haley Baldwin will be this season’s leaders. The boys swimmers are going through a rebuilding phase and time will tell who will emerge as the leaders of the pack.
Despite last season’s results, coach Corgiat expects the Pride to be serious contenders in the CCC.
“We’d like to be at the top of conference,” Corgiat said. “At this level it’s all about good starts, good turns and good finishes.”
Merced High and Buhach Colony High are projected to be the stiffest competitors this season with Merced finding strength in numbers.
“We can go head-to-head, but it might come down to numbers,” Raynes said.
Turlock’s first CCC meet is next Friday at Golden Valley High. Pitman will also compete next Friday at Atwater High.
