There must be something in the water.

Sequim’s girls swimming crew is quickly erasing memories of last season’s 0-10 finish, thanks to some strong efforts from veteran athletes and an infusion of energy from newcomers.

The Wolves came within a few points of a 3-0 start last week. After topping Bremerton on Sept. 21, Sequim saw Kingston slip past them in the final events for a four-point win and rounded out the week with a loss on Saturday to a much larger Lindberg team.

"The new girls are enjoying swimming and are really starting to contribute to our team as a whole, and I think the team in general is having a super season," rookie coach Susan Craig said.

The Wolves kicked off their week with a 94-66 win at Bremerton on Sept. 21.

Senior Gianna Vennetti qualified for districts in the 100 butterfly while freshman Cassandra Calderon and seniors Rachel Hardy and Rachel Hughes teamed with Vennetti to post district-qualifying times in the 200 free and 200 medley relays.

Hardy took first place in both 50 and 100 free events while Calderon earned first place in the 200 individual medley.

Bucs finish strong

Outnumbered by Kingston swimmers 24-14, Sequim’s Wolves nevertheless battled to take a six-point lead with one event to go.

But Kingston took the top two spots in the 400 free relay to escape from Sequim with an 86-82 league victory on Sept. 23.

Calderon trimmed two seconds off her 200 IM time and shed time off her 100 freestyle time, finishing second in the event. First-year swimmer Havilah Gautschi dropped four seconds off her 100 freestyle best.

Calderon, Hardy, Hughes and Vennetti swept both 200 medley and 200 free relays once again.

"We have high hopes for them to go to state," Craig said. "Very exciting to go from a small team last year with no league wins to winning two of our first three meets."

Earning first-place swims for Sequim were Hardy (50 free, 100 free), Amariah Clift (200 free), Calderon (200 IM) and Vennetti (100 butterfly).

In another showdown with a larger team, Sequim’s swim crew wasn’t a match for the visiting Lindbergh Eagles on Sept. 25, falling 116-58.

Sequim swimmers managed to post three first-place swims, getting wins from Hardy (100 backstroke), Hughes (100 butterfly) and Calderon in the 500 freestyle.

Clift, a sophomore, continues to help Sequim’s 200 Medley B Relay and 200 Free B relays while freshman Sabrina Marunde earned her best times in her individual swims, dropping 1.5 seconds off her 100 backstroke best.

Sequim is at Port Town-send on Sept. 30 and hosts rival Port Angeles on Oct. 7.