The Carson High girls swim team will be at full strength this week, so it's hoping a run at the Northern 4A title is possible.
Meanwhile the Carson girls track team could also be in the running for a zone title this weekend. But the main objective for the Carson boys and girls swim teams and the Carson boys and girls track teams will be to qualify as many individuals and relays for the NIAA State Championships the following week.
In particular, it will be important for Carson's girls to qualify as many individuals as possible. The Senators will likely be in a three-way race with Galena and Reno High for the title at this Saturday's zone meet at Reno High.
But while the Senators may not have quite enough depth to take the zone title, they may actually have a better shot at winning the state crown, providing they qualify as many athletes as they expect to for state.
Meanwhile the Senator boys and girls teams settled for third place finishes in last week's Sierra League meet. On the boys side, Reno will win the zone title with the battle for second expected to be between Carson and Galena. The Grizzlies beat Carson by four points last Saturday at the Carson Aquatic Facility.
When asked if the battle for second could go down to the final event, Carson coach Monica Weaver said, "Most definitely. Galena's going to be pretty strong."
McQueen won last Saturday's girls meet with 422 points while Reno was second with 346 and Carson was third with 316. But Carson was missing three of its top swimmers in Lauren and Sarah Metcalf and Hilary Schlager.
With those three swimmers back, Weaver believes her team can make a run at McQueen. "I think the girls will be able to challenge McQueen," Weaver said.
Weaver hopes to qualify about a combined 12 boys and girls swimmers for state. The top three finishers in swimming and track this weekend will qualify for state.
Weaver also hopes that all six of her relays - the boys and girls 200 and 400 freestyle and 200 individual medley - will qualify for state. Based on last Saturday's results that definitely could happen as Carson finished first or second in all six relays. "It would be nice to be able to get all six in," Weaver said.
Weaver obviously doesn't want to give away all of her swimmers who will be in what relays, but she's given away quite a bit in the boys relays as her top three swimmers, Kevin Dyer, Garrett Clayton and Matt Grunert are all competing in just one individual event.
That means Weaver is trying to strengthen her relays as much as possible by placing all three of those swimmers in all three relays. "That gives my secret away on the relays," Weaver said.
Dyer should be able to qualify for state in the 500 free, Clayton should be able to qualify for state in the 100 breaststroke and Grunert should be able to qualify for state in the 100 backstroke.
There's also a chance that Todd Banko, who finished fourth last Saturday, could qualify for state in diving. Adam Updegrove, who took fifth, and Kurt Anderson, who was eighth last Saturday, should provide valuable points to Carson in diving as well.
Others at zone for Carson will be Ian Murdock (200 free, 500 free), Paul Chang (200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke), Chris Earwood (50 free, 100 free), Jacob Cornwell (50 free, 100 free) and Sam Ballard (100 butterfly, 100 back).
For the girls, Weaver is also hoping for a 1-2-3 finish in the 500 free. Abby Niehoff should win while it's hoped that Barbara Perkins and Tatum Boehnke will round out the top three.
In addition, Rebekah Niehoff could qualify for state in the 200 free and 100 back, Julie Asire could qualify in the 50 free and 100 free, Niehoff should qualify in the 100 fly and Schlager could qualify in the 100 breaststroke.
Others swimming for Carson are: Beth Lewis (200 free, 200 I.M.), Melissa Wurster (200 free, 100 free), Julia Lapham (200 free), Perkins (200 I.M.), Danielle Judge (200 I.M., 100 breaststroke), Melanie Gingell (200 I.M.), Jessica Goddard (50 free, 100 fly), Sarah Metcalf (50 free, 100 free), Lauren Metcalf (50 free, 100 fly), Boehnke (100 fly), Schlager (100 free), Hannah Nystrom (500 free).
In addition, Carson has Lexy Eich, Tory Knudson, Amanda Bevans and Chelsea Keating in diving. The diving will be held at 6 p.m. today at the University of Nevada. The preliminaries will be held at 2 p.m. Friday and the finals will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Carson Aquatic Facility.
TRACK
For Carson's girls, Kayla Sanchez and Andrea Keirstead will look to go 1-2 in the 100 meters and Sanchez, Keirstead and Christy Works will look to go 1-2-3 in the 200. Sanchez and Keirstead hope to take the top two spots in the 100 and 300 hurdles as well.
Works will look to win the 400 and Alex McAlman will be favored to win the shot put and discus. Others running Saturday will be Gloria Sosa in the 800 and Annie Brinson in the 1,600.
Carson will hope to qualify for state in the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800 relays with Crista Dixon, Yvette Hollett, Sinead McSweeney, Works, Brinson, Allie Collier and Sosa all potentially contributing to those relays.
Jeremy Gray could lead a strong effort for the boys as he could sweep the 100 and 200. Eric Walther will look to qualify for state in the shot put and discus and Chad Shroy will look to qualify in the 1,600. Carson 4x400 relay of Floyd Hernandez, Caleb Carter, Shroy and Gray will look to qualify as well.
In addition for Carson, Adam Houghton will compete in the high jump, Caleb Kondor will compete in the shot put and Donald Foster will compete in the discus.