SSHS swimmers will be a "fun group"

Siloam Springs doesn't have as many swimmers and divers as in previous seasons, but the Panthers and Lady Panthers are going to be an enjoyable group to coach.

"This will probably be one of my most fun groups," said head coach Stephanie Goddard. "They're just a happy group of kids."

Siloam Springs Panthers and Lady Panthers

2015-16 varsity swimming and diving schedule

Date Location Time

Nov. 19 Jones Center, Springdale 4 p.m.

Dec. 7 John Brown, Siloam Springs 3:30 p.m.

Dec. 10 Bentonville Community Center 4 p.m.

Jan. 7 John Brown, Siloam Springs 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 Jones Center, Springdale TBA

Jan. 28 Bentonville Community Center 4 p.m.

Jan. 30 Bentonville Community Center 11 a.m.

Feb. 4 Jones Center, Springdale 4 p.m.

Feb. 16 District Dive, Bentonville 4 p.m.

Feb. 17 District Swim, Bentonville 4 p.m.

Feb. 26 State Dive Meet, Bentonville TBA

Feb. 27 State Swim Meet, Bentonville, TBA

The season's first full meet will be on Thursday at the Jones Center in Springdale with 11 more meets scheduled through the end of February.

Panthers

Siloam Springs has 21 boys swimmers and several of them are expected to be very competitive in meets.

"My boys are going to be strong," Goddard said.

Junior swimmer Brittain Butler is the Panthers' top swimmer and could qualify for the state meet in just about every event.

"He's such a versatile swimmer," Goddard said. "We think he'll qualify in all the events and be able to pick what events he swims at state based on where he'll finish best.

"He's just naturally talented, but he works super hard. He's really grown and gotten a lot stronger."

Junior Eduardo Suarez and sophomore Will O'Hare are strong swimmers in the butterfly, while sophomore Ben Davis is solid in the freestyle and backstroke.

Junior Ryke Beever is expected to be one of Siloam Springs' top freestyle swimmers.

"He did awesome last year and this year he's started out strong," Goddard said of Beever.

Seniors Jordan Norberg, Bobby Norwood, Nathaniel Long are all expected to contribute.

"We have some strong swimmers," Goddard said. "They are all close to the same speed. It's a fight every day in relays."

Freshman Landon Cottrell could give several returning swimmers a run for their money.

"What's nice about (Cottrell) is he can swim any stroke and be able to compete," Goddard said.

Also swimming for Siloam Springs are freshman Ethan Andrus, Ethan Davis and Lee Thompson; sophomore Stephen Grant, Hayden Moore, Chase Kruger and Steven Walls; juniors Zach Becan, Christian Torres and Nick Woodard and senior Jonathan Little.

Lady Panthers

The Lady Panthers have 17 swimmers on this year's squad.

"All of our girls are consistent, strong swimmers," Goddard said. "They'll swim whatever we ask them to do. They'll score some points for us in team meets."

One of their fastest swimmers is junior Alicia Suarez, who will compete in multiple events for the Lady Panthers.

Senior Amanda Glass is only doing swimming this season instead of diving. She'll be strong in distance events such as the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke.

Glass and Bethany Rodgers are the Lady Panthers' only two seniors.

Sophomore Catherine Donner is strong in the breaststroke, while sophomore Caroline Farine will be one of Siloam Springs' top swimmers in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle.

"She's one of my sprinters," Goddard said of Farine.

Freshman Ashley McFadin is the only diver on the squad.

"She is going to be amazing," Goddard said. McFadin is also a standout gymnast.

Freshmen Susan Bishop, Shayla Enlow, Katie Kendrick, Chloe McGooden, Makenna Pinkerton, Alliann Thomas; sophomores Chandler Losh, Lara Luis, Kylyn Ruede, Olivia Schaap; and juniors Tabitha Eiland and Ashlynn Price are also swimming for SSHS.

NOTES: Home meets start at 3:30 p.m. at the Hub White Pool inside the Walton Lifetime Health Complex at John Brown University. Diving follows the swimming events around 6 p.m. All road meets start at 4 p.m. ... The team will once again honor the late Evan Thomas, who would have been a senior on this year's team. Thomas died in June 2014 in what was ruled an accidental drowning while swimming in the Illinois River just outside of the Siloam Springs Kayak Park. The Panthers and Lady Panthers have T-shirts, swimsuits and swim caps with tributes to Thomas.

Sports on 11/18/2015