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Northeast Range/Ely will adjust on the fly this fall.
The high school girls swimming team has a revamped lineup after the graduation of several seniors, including much of a record- breaking relay team.
But numbers are stable for the Nighthawks, who will mix returning talent with new varsity swimmers as they take to the water.
A season-opening relay event at Rock Ridge was held Thursday, and the regular season starts with Tuesday’s dual meet at International Falls - the first of two road contests that week.
“It’s a rebuilding year,” said Nighthawks Head Coach Cheri DeBeltz. “With the numbers we lost with graduating seniors, I was nervous as to what this season would bring for us. But surprisingly we came in the first day of practice and there were just as many swimmers and now we’ve gained another. Now we just need to gain experience and confidence.”
The team has 19 total participants, and all but two are from Ely.
Leading the way is junior Anna Larson, who was part of that record-setting relay group.
“It will be nice to keep her on and then we will have other girls returning in other spots,” said DeBeltz. “ It will be good for them to realize they are a piece of the puzzle and have to continue on that legacy. It’s their time to shine and step up to the block and show us what they’ve got.”
Junior Ali Krekelberg is also back and brings varsity experience, along with sophomores Cylvia DeBeltz, Tuuli Koivisto, Hannah Ice and ninth-grader Amelia Swenson.
“They are sort of our core,” said DeBeltz. The Nighthawk will turn to returning senior Rosemary Scholosser, the only senior on the team, for leadership and other varsity swimmers looking to make an impact are Sabrah Hart, Moon Vetos-Keen, Madison Jonas and Grace Flynn.
“I’m really excited for what this season will bring,” said DeBeltz. “It will be exciting to see where we come by the end of the season as far as growth.”
