2018 Palo Verde Girls Swimming Capsule

Head coach: Brent Gonzalez, 14th season

Returning letter winners: Twenty-two

Top athletes: Maddie Lauger (Jr.), Portia Blackert (Jr.), Stephanie Platt (Sr.), Summer Woods (Jr.)

Outlook: The Panthers bring back 22 letter winners, but lost some key contributors from last year’s team that won the program’s third straight state title.

Lauger (fifth at state in 200-yard individual medley and 100 backstroke) leads a group of returnees that also boasts Blackert (fourth in Sunset Region in 500 freestyle), Platt (fifth in Sunset in 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly) and Woods (fifth in Sunset in diving).

“The girls are looking to repeat as regional champions for the fourth year in a row,” Gonzalez said. “It will be a tough road for a fourth state championship, but Palo will try to be in the top spot again at state.”