While the Mehlville swim team roster is small by area standards, the Panthers feature a relatively large senior class this season.

Of the 13 swimmers on the team, five are seniors, something assistant coach Mark Hromnak said helps with leadership and team chemistry. The team’s four fastest swimmers, Jake Duffner, Andrew Freeman, Kristian Nasi and Nathan Roberts are all among the senior class. The team also consists of six sophomores, something Hromnak said will be a big advantage as they practice into their senior years.

Hromnak said such a small roster often excludes MHS from team success, so the Panthers will focus on certain events to make state competition.

“We’re going to focus on the relays and 200 free relay and put our fastest swimmers in and see if we can’t hit a state time,” Hromnak said. “Our goal is to see if we can hit a state time in one of the three relays.”

The team finished 3-6 in 2021, one of its most successful seasons in recent history. Hromnak said the team looks forward to facing other smaller teams or competing in tri-meets, since that allows them to compete in the most events. 

“At a tri-meet I only need to fill two lanes … so we have a better shot. (COVID) pretty much stopped tri-meets, because there’s too many kids in one place, but now they’re starting to bring that back,” Hromnak said.

The team opens up its season at home Sept. 1 against Eureka.