EAST LYME

Coach: Jack Stabach (15th year).

Key returnees: Sr. Ugne Kirvelevicius (IM, breast), Sr. Tori Poole (back, fly), Sr. Melinda Wei (breast, IM), Jr. Emma Magna (breast, free), So. Gretchen Stelter (free), Jr. Jazzy Bazinet (diving, back), Sr. Hannah Suarez (diving), So. Carlie Biondi (free, fly), So. Alexis Dumais (back, free), Sr. Rachel White (free), Jr. Madi Lilly (fly), Jr. Julia Provost (fly), Jr. Anneliese Lapides (breast).

Top newcomers: So. Michelle Saracovan (free, breast), Fr. Victoria Chen (free), Fr. Rasa Kirvelevicius (fly, free, IM), Fr. Chara Proud (free, breast), Fr. Abigail Bessire (free).

Outlook: The Vikings have been the ECC's best program during the 2000s and the 2014 edition might be East Lyme's best team yet. Not only do they return 13 veterans who were qualifiers for the Class M state meet a year ago, Stabach welcomes a talented freshman class that will push his returnees. The Vikings were fourth in the Class M meet in 2013 and Stabach said the goal is "to move up to the top two ... it comes down to believing in ourselves and our team."

FITCH/ST. BERNARD

Coach: Ken Berg (14th year).

Key returnees: Sr. Meredith Hird (IM, breast), Sr. Grace Moriarty (IM, fly), Sr. Madeleine Rusk (distance), Sr. Mikaela Dimaapi (free), Jr. Lauren Roper (free), Jr. Katherine Aristi (back), So. Skyler Pearse (fly).

Top newcomers: Fr. Kelcie Drury, Fr. Holly Conlon, Fr. Olivia Rusk.

Outlook: Despite the loss Jackie Kokomoor (sprints, relays), who has taken her talents to the Coast Guard Academy, the Falcons have an abundance of talented swimmers - if not depth - and hope to challenge East Lyme for the ECC title after finishing second a year ago (8-3 overall, 8-2 ECC). Hird is the reigning ECC champion in the 200 IM and 100 fly while Hird, Moriarty and Dimaapi were members of the ECC champion 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. Berg expects to have some of the conference's elite swimmers this fall with his main focus on individual performances and state qualification.

LEDYARD

Coach: Alan Opsahl (5th year).

Key returnees: Sr. Madison Curcuro (free), Sr. Mallory Oswald (free), Jr. Molly Barnett (back, IM), Jr. Sydney Dudda (free), Jr. Oliva Satti (distance), Jr. Hannah Terrapin (free), Jr. Morgan Wicken (free), So. Megan Pipech (IM).

Top newcomers: Fr. Alexis Dempsey (free), Fr. Elizabeth Dudda (free).

Outlook: The Colonels must replace nine seniors from last year's 2-8 and has only two seniors this year in Curcuro and Oswald. But Opsahl has more than 30 swimmers in the program will look to develop depth as the season progresses. Ledyard also has a home to call its own this year, moving from UConn-Avery Point in Groton to the Mashantucket Community Center pool.

NORWICH FREE ACADEMY

Coach: Cory Tubbs (15th year).

Key returnees: Sr. Emma Buckridge, Sr. Kylie Gromko, Sr. Alicia Finegan, Sr. Ashley Watson, Sr. Ashley Nicholas, Sr. Olivia Vallencourt.

Outlook: The Wildcats return Buckridge, the defending ECC 500 freestyle champion, from a team that finished 4-8 a year ago, but Tubbs is most excited about her 21 first-year swimmers, including 15 freshmen and five sophomores. "We're a very young team, but the future looks bright," Tubbs said.

WATERFORD

Coach: Brett Arnold (14th year).

Key returnees: Sr. Asia Langley (fly, free), Sr. Catherine Ward (back), Sr. Katherine Tsiouris (diving), Sr. Cassie Medbery (free), Sr. Riley Dimmock (free), Sr. Courtney Payne (breast, free), Jr. Meika Gathy (back, free), Jr. Kelly Cheng (free), So. Caitlin Henderson (breast), So. Tori Zane (fly, free).

Top newcomers: Sr. Charley Dimmock (free), Sr. Katherine Lewis (free), So. Cathy Yan (free), Fr. Megan Wyatt (free), Fr. Marissa Walker (free), Fr. Molly Reagan (fly), Fr. Zora LaBonte (free), Fr. Carolyn Keaetley (free), Fr. Courtney Currier (diving), Fr. Hannah Eshenfelder (free).

Outlook: The Lancers began a strong dual-meet team a year ago, finishing 7-4 overall and in third place in the ECC. Arnold hopes to continue that trend and also qualify a number of athletes for the Class S meet. Langley is one of the state's top freestyle sprinters and returns for her final season as the reigning ECC champion in the 50 and 100 free. Waterford has talent and depth throughout the lineup and Arnold is looking forward to developing some of his younger swimmers during the season.

Note: Arnold will also being training three Montville swimmers with his team for the third season - Jr. Abby Baukus (back), So. Molly Podeszwa (free), Fr. Alexa Charles (free).