Girls Swimming – Can Emmaus defend their District XI title from a year ago? Hornets must replace key starters lost to graduation, will lean on small senior class and underclassmen heading into upcoming season.

Sophomore Avery King is one of number of key returnees for the defending District XI champs. Photo: Emmaus Swimming

Head coach – Tim O’Connor (23rd season)

Assistants – Doug Cornish, Rob Barnum, Matt Richards, Mandy Lovett, Frank Donnely (diving), Marc Manley

Last season – 11-2 overall, 11-0 EPC, won first District XI championship since 2008

Swimmers lost to graduation – Chelsea Gravereaux (Drexel), Kate Champagne (Ursinus), Maggie Champagne (Lafayette), Abby Heilenman (Penn St), Reilly King (Siena), Caroline Nelson (Susquehanna), Jordyn Yerger

Key returnees – Sr. Lexi Shuryn, Jr. Bella Buchman, Jr. Claire Engel, Jr. Peyton Rautzhan, Jr. Kera Reinhard, Soph. Avery King, Soph. Mya Puentas, Soph. Lauren Sharp, Soph. Chloe Vlaeminck, Soph. Morgan Belisle (diver)

Key newcomers – Fresh. Hailey Reinhard

First league meet – Dec. 10 Whitehall (4 p.m.)

Follow the team on social media: Twitter – @Emmaussports.com, @emmausgirlsswim; Facebook – Emmaus Swimming & Diving

Coach O’Connor – “We lost five or six seniors to graduation and four of them were state swimmers. In addition to that, they were all district point scorers. Winning a district title on the girls side has been hard to come by the last few years, but we were able break through a year ago.”

“With that said, I do like my small upperclassmen (Lexi Shuryn and Olivia Timmins) and behind them is where we fill in some good juniors (Bella Buchman, Peyton Rautzhan and Kera Reinhard).”

“The sophomore class (Lauren Sharp, Mya Puentas, Avery King) got a lot of experience last year and some exceeded our expectations. Last year, we also had one girl diver (Morgan Belisle) who did great at districts and I’m looking for her to improve on that and hopefully we can get a second or third diver to compete.”

Roster (by class):

Seniors – Lexi Shuryn, Olivia Timmins


Juniors – Bella Buchman, Claire Engel, Sarah Mazzetti, Peyton Rautzhan, Kera Reinhard

Sophomores – Morgan Belisle, Audrey Davidson, Abby Hark, Avery King, Cami Metka, Mya Puentes, Jai Puri, Lauren Sharp, Chloe Vlaeminck, Laryssa White


Freshmen – Morgan Gould, Gabby Gurrieri, Sophia Iacobelli, Carly Lenett, Natalie Mack, Molly O’Connor, Hailey Reinhard, Catherine Sirignano