EASTERN CONNECTICUT CONFERENCE

East Lyme

Coach: Jack Stabach (17th year)

Key retunees: Sr. Megan Opsahl, Sr. Victoria Chen, Sr. Chara Proud, Sr. Abby Bessire, Jr. Taylor Gray, Jr. Maeve Counter, Jr. Kate Orefice, Jr. Emma Vlaun, Jr. Amelia Kozlowski, Jr. Mary Kathryn Taylor, Jr. Anna Johnson, Jr. Katherine Wyatt, So. Katie Keating, Sr. Hannah Yousaf, So. Atena Mendez, So. Hiruni Jayawickre.

Top newcomers: Grace Vlaun, Alissa Lee, Ashwini Sahasrubude, Erin Munch, Soleil Demars.

Outlook: The Vikings have won all 17 ECC championships since the turn of the century, and will be favored to add an 18th title this fall after going 13-2 overall, 10-0 in the ECC, winning the ECC championship meet and placing third in the Class M state meet in 2016. They did lose some key swimmers, including Class M state champion Gretchen Stelter in the 50-yard freestyle, but return five All-Area athletes, including last year's ECC championship swimmer of the meet (Gray), the All-Area 200 medley relay team of Gray, Chen, Counter and Orefice, and Taylor in the 100 butterfly.

Fitch

Coach: Brandon Biondi (1st year)

Key returnees: Sr. Danielle Millerick, Sr. Holly Conlon, Jr. Hope Sowle, Jr. Paulomi Sardar, So. Alyson Lowney, So. Fiona Lemay.

Top newcomers: Fr. Kylie Heard, Fr. Emily Tarinelli, Fr. Katie Shaughnessy.

Outlook: Biondi replaces the veteran Ken Berg, who retired after 16 seasons of leading the Falcons. Seniors Millerick, Conlon and Drury are all proven performers while Sardar is the reigning ECC champion in the 200-yard freestyle, earning All-Area honors as well. Fitch probably doesn't have the overall depth to challenge East Lyme for the title, but the Falcons always have quality swimmers.

Ledyard

Coach: Alan Opsahl (8th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Madison Sanborn, Sr. Elizabeth Dudda, Sr. Aubrey Moser, Jr. Olivia Strelevitz, Jr. Madeline Johanson, Jr. Ellie Shea, Jr. Gabby Schaufler, So. Erin Lyons, So. Katy Truncale.

Top newcomers: Fr. Aubrie Lozior, Fr. Tesse Finnegan, Fr. Paige Booth.

Outlook: The Colonels must replace six seniors, but there is certainly plenty of experience, even though Opsahl said overall numbers are small. Strelevitz won an ECC title in the 100-yard backstroke last year and is also strong in the 100 butterfly. Sanborn, Dudda and Moser bring experience to the freestyle races while Johanson, Schaufler and Lyons are multi-event performers.

Norwich Free Academy

Coach: Cory Tubbs (17th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Michelle Agular, Sr. Madlyn Bell, Sr. Angela Chong, Sr. Elizabeth Graves, Sr. Ashley Lac, Sr. Ciara McDonough, Sr. Emily McKenzie, Sr. Katie Provost, Sr. Kayla Rosengren, Sr. Zilin Yang.

Outlook: The Wildcats did suffer some graduation losses, but Tubbs welcomes back 10 seniors and is really excited to have 15 newcomers join the program. "Our team continues to grow and improve," Tubbs said.

Waterford

Coach: Brett Arnold (17th year)

Key returnees: Sr. Carolyn Keatley, Sr. Molly Reagan, Sr. Zora LaBonte, Sr. Sophia Podeszwa, Sr. Erin Patten, Sr. Chloe Rubin, Sr. Megan Wyatt, Sr. Alex Charles, Jr. Jayne Darras, Jr. Elizabeth Hawkins,  So. Elyse Gathy.

Top newcomers: Fr. Ella Dyjak, Fr. Viviana Martinez, Fr. Tallah Ryan, Fr. Sarah Johnson.

Outlook: Arnold is excited about his 2017 Lancers, and who can blame him? For starters, a pair of ECC champions and All-Area performers — Podeszwa (diving) and Gathy (500-yard freestyle) — return along with Darras, one of the program's top freestyle athletes. Freshmen Dyjak and Martinez are expected to add depth, making Waterford one of the more competitive teams in the ECC this fall and a threat to finish among the top 10 schools in Class S.