The improvement that the Carson High swim teams have shown from last year could already be seen in the opening meet on Saturday.
Carson's boys, the defending Northern zone champion, won 139-113 while the Senator girls, who placed second at state last year, won 157-118.
Several swimmers, who needed longer to do so last year, were able to qualify for zone against South Tahoe.
"A few of the swimmers that made zone toward the end of season last year made zone in their first meet this year," Carson coach Monica Weaver said. "I have high expecations because we have a lot of young swimmers who are much better this year than they were last year."
In the girls meet, Charity Ricks led a one-two-three sweep for Carson, winning in diving. Alyssa Jensen took second and Ila Bottoms placed third. Brett Server won in boys diving for the Senators.
In the girls meet, Tara Theilemann, Lauren Metcalf, Jessica Goddard and Lauren Costella won the 200-yard medley and 400 freestyle relays.
Goddard won the 200 free and the 100 butterfly while Julie Struble placed third in the 200 free. Costella won the 200 individual medley and won the 500 free.
Katie Wandel led a one-two-three finish in the 50 free. Emily Johnson took second and Lateisha Lindemann was third. Theilemann won the 100 free and 100 backstroke while Lindemann took third in the 100 free. Metcalf took second in the 500 free and Wandel placed second in the 100 back. Struble, Robyn Conn, Paige Thayer and Lindemann placed second in the 200 free relay.
In the boys meet, Kiel Costella, Jeff Stroup, Justin Barber and Jake Oxoby won the 200 medley and 400 free relays.
Stroup won the 200 free while Andrew Cardinal was second. Todd Stroup placed second in the 200 I.M. and Oxoby won the 50 free while Kevin Millim took third. Millim also won the 100 free.
Barber won the 500 free while Costella took second. Barber led a one-two-three finish in the 100 fly, with Oxoby taking second and Todd Stroup placing third.
Jesse Steele, Lewis Begstrom, Todd Stroup and Millim placed second in the 200 free relay. Costella won the 100 back and Jeff Stroup took second in the 100 breaststroke.