LADIES FIRST!

The long journey to the IHSAA State Meet begins today for the girls on the YHS swim team. For the record, it'll take 110 days to get there for those who are talented enough to make it. And many of them are capable of doing just that.

The first day of practice marks the debut of new head coach Matt Routh, himself a former Tiger swimmer from the class of 2006. Matt will guide the Tigers through their third coaching change in as many years, and there are bound to be bumps along the way as athletes get used to a new coach and vice versa. But this year's edition of the Tigers, both boys and girls, could make some noise.

The Lady Tigers have several formidable weapons, led by junior All-American backstroker Larah Beaver. But sophomores Jessica Extine, Kersea Gable and Caroline Grasso also possess top-shelf ability. That quartertet is capable of making a strong run at the YHS 200-yard medley relay record of 1:49.91, and I'll go out on a limb now and predict that if all four girls stay healthy this season, they will break the record in February. Beaver, Extine, Gable and Grasso will also haul in a lot of points in their individual events, too.

Look for senior Gabby LaVoie to score significant points in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyles, with juniors Kirsten Nickoli, Chappell Railey and Chelsea Watters also capable of contributing lots of points in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyles and other strokes.

The boys don't hold their first practice of the IHSAA season for another two weeks. But anticipation is high for the YHS guys as well. Seniors Michael Heavilon, Hunter Hoffman and Adam Voss are ready to go out with a bang in their final go 'round. All three look strong in pre-season club practices, and put up impressive times in the recent club meet at Fishers.

When you add in freshman Scott Heavilon, the Tigers have a roster short on depth, but long on talent. Look for the boys to make a serious run at the school record board in February, especially in the 400-yard freestyle relay. That 3:12.23 put up two seasons ago could be in play, especially if the younger half of the Heavilon brothers continues to improve as rapidly as he has in the last couple of seasons.

Hang on fans and parents, this should be one wild ride in 2010-11.

GO TIGERS!