The New Paltz boys’ swim team lost 12 seniors from last season’s OCIAA and Section 9 runnerup team. Included in that graduating group was two-time Section 9 double-event winner Eric Culver (the 200 and 500 freestyle), one-time Section 9 50 freestyle champ Logan Peterson, Section 50 and 100 freestyle top three Luke Strothenke, top three Section 100 breaststroke Stephen Delarede, plus John Slingerland and Tom Plitsch from the Section 200 and 400 relay teams. The Huguenots also lost long-time coach Melissa Gruver (Lapolt) to retirement. To say these losses will be significant is an obvious understatement.

But the New Paltz boys’ swimming program has such an aura about it that there will probably -- despite the losses -- not be much of a dropoff. For you see, the Huguenots return Section 9 double-event winner, senior Hunter Bartlett (100 breaststroke and 200 Individual Medley), and juniors Matt Hasbrouck (States in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly) and Mark Strothenke (States in the 100 breaststroke).

And as usual for this program that has produced two-time State Champion Cameron Bartlett in the 100 breaststroke, State 200 and 400 Freestyle Relay champions two years ago and Section 9 champions over-the-years in Mike Ferraro, AJ Hasbrouck, Dan Strothenke, Culver, Peterson and now Hunter Bartlett, there are always swimmers in the wings. And this season, after solid performances in 2009-2010, await freshmen Aodhan Fogarty, Hudson Carroll and Mitchell Rifkin.

“Everyone is looking really good,” said co-coach Matt Suits (with first-year coach Dan Roth), “but to challenge for the league and Section titles again the rest of the guys have to step up. It will take an overall team effort to topple Pine Bush (who has won back-to-back OCIAA and Section 9 titles) and stay with Monroe, NFA and Valley Central. This is a strong Section. And even with our graduation losses the program continues as before, as there are some really good kids down the line just waiting to step in and keep this going.”

The New Paltz boys’ swim team hosts FDR at the SUNY-New Paltz pool on Tuesday, Dec. 14 at 4:30 p.m. It is the pool-less Huguenots only home meet of the season.