Losing a three-time state champion and welcoming a third head coach in three years would mean most programs are on the way down. Not this one.

New Hazen girls swim coach Rick Wertman thinks the Highlanders have what it takes to keep moving on – and even get better.

“I think we have all the pieces together to be one of the state’s top programs,” Wertman said. “We have a deep team, a talented team.”

Hazen had a strong season last year. The Highlanders won the Seamount League meet, took second at districts and finished 10th at state. The team did lose two strong swimmers in Kaela Nurmi and Lauren Kaufman, a three-time state champion who is now swimming at Texas Christian University.

“We lost a lot, but I think we’re ready to fill those gaps with numbers, if not top-end talent,” Wertman said.

With 61 swimmers, Hazen again has plenty of numbers to throw around. The Highlanders welcome back six returning state competitors.

Senior Sarah McCormick finished eighth at the state meet in the one-meter dive competition.

Sophomore Kala DiMicco also made the state meet last year in the 200 medley relay, 200 individual medley, dive and 400 free relay. She made the finals in the 200 medley (placed ninth) and 400 free (placed third) relays.

Junior Amy LeBar made state in the 200 free and 200 free relay. Junior Taylor Gale made state in the 200 free relay and junior Mikayla Muratore made state in the 400 free relay. Junior Leah Maier made state in the 200 medley relay.

Other key returners are seniors Megan Downs, Aileen Isakharov and Emma Rehrl, as well as juniors Kristal Kozai and Kara Bradford, plus sophomore Talisa Wibmer.

New swimmers to watch are freshmen Nadine Berg, Anna Collons, A.J. DiMicco and Kourtney Brunings.

Wertman himself comes to Hazen with quite a resume. Among other jobs, he coached the boys swim team at Mount Rainier High School from 1989 to 2005. During that time his teams placed in the top four at state 15 years in a row and won six state titles. His teams were also national champions in 2001 and 2004. Wertman also won the 2007 Washington State High School Swim Coaches Hall of Fame award.

“I’ve had an opportunity to be very successful in this state,” Wertman said. “I’m hoping to do similar things at Hazen. I think we have an opportunity to do something very special.”