Despite a mixed result at their first meet of the season on March 3, both varsity swim teams’ hold high expectations for the remainder of the season.

At the first meet of the season, and in the new pool, the boys’ varsity swim team won against both Menlo-Atherton and Sacred Heart, while the girls’ suffered a loss to Menlo-Atherton, during the 400 meter freestyle relay event.

Competition for this season’s girls’ varsity swim team will be Menlo-Atherton, Valley Christian and Archbishop Mitty, along with cross-town rival Gunn High School.

“In our league the Gunn meet is always close… they’ll be big competition,” said Becky Wenzlau, one of three captains for the girls swim team.

Phoebe Champion, another girls’ captain, said, “we’re used to beating Gunn, at least for girls. We work to keep that.”

Both teams practice a total of eight times a week according to the paloaltoswimming.com, as varsity coach Danny Dye sets the bar high for his swimmers, in hopes to keep past prestigious swim titles in the Vikings’ name.

“For the girls, I want them to win CCS,” Dye said. “[For the boys’ varsity team] to win leagues [SCVAL], get top two in CCS, and chase Bellarmine. Bellarmine has won the past 23 consecutive CCS titles.”

Eric Vallone, one of the three captains for the boys’ varsity swim team, agrees with Dye.

“We want to win leagues and get close to Bellarmine as close as possible,” said Vallone.

Champion also sees eye-to- eye with Dye.

“Generally we have really high expectations on both sides,” Champion said. “Our main goal is to defend the title–we have the talent.”

“Our top priority is to have a great time and stay focused on the fact that we haven’t lost a dual meet in three years,” Wenzlau adds.

Despite the graduation of key team contributors in 2005, both varsity teams aren’t discouraged.

"All seniors are important,” Dye said. “We got lucky this year, we only lost two and replaced with three [swimmers].”

Similar to Dye, Champion said that her team can fill the gap.

“We lost two crucial seniors, Monika Freidman and my sister Remy Champion, both really big contributors to fly and free,” Champion said. “We’ve been a really deep team. Our strength is our depth.”

Coach Dye adds, “For girls, sprint, relay and mid distance. For guys [their strengths are] distance, sprinting, IM [all four strokes] and breastroke."

“[We are] strong in freestyle and butterfly events. We’re not as strong ins breast [stroke],” Wenzlau said.

“We have enough swimmers to allow them to do what they want. [We do] not many problems,” Vallone said.

In addition Dye said, “they’re a good team in the sense that they’re a good, fun group of kids, no bickering. I really enjoy working with them.”

After the first swim meet in the new pool, against Menlo Atherton and Sacred Heart, Champion hopes that the new pool will give Viking swim teams a competitive edge.

“Everyone’s so excited. Having a home pool is so great,” Champion said.

“The pool is so nice,” Wenzlau said. “[It makes it] easier for people to focus.”

The next varsity swim meet is today at 3:30 p.m. against Lynbrook High School at Paly.