• Coach: Julie Barashkoff, 5th year
• Last season: 6-4 in 4A Kingco; 10th at state meet.
• 2008 turnout: 45. “We have about 10 to 15 more girls than usual,” Barashkoff said.
Top returners
• Sr. Maureen Cardwell: Redmond’s top swimmer looks to shake off lingering shoulder injury and defend her state titles in the 50 free and 50 butterfly.
• Sr. Becca Wyant: Barashkoff calls her the team’s most versatile swimmer. She swam on last season’s state-placing 200 medley and 200 free relay teams in addition to placing 11th at state in the 50 free.
• Sr. Ashley Hobbs: Experienced swimmer spent last season in Ireland on an exchange program and is expected to be a big contributor in her senior campaign.
• Sr. Jessi McCreary: Distance swimmer enters fourth year in program and will be a steady force once again.
• Soph. Melodie Nagasawa: Second-year sprinter looks to improve on strong freshman season, when she swam on Redmond’s state-placing 200 medley and 200 free relay teams.
Key newcomers
• Fr. Allison Binkerd: Distance swimmer who attends Redmond Junior High will add depth and is expected to be solid point getter in dual meets.
• Soph. Heather Harper: Top incoming swimmer is a preseason favorite to break the school record in the breaststroke, which is 1:08.22, set by Dionne Reed in 1992.
• Soph. Atley Savoldi: Transfer from Arizona is another young breaststroker with a lot of talent.
Key meets
• Sept. 19 vs. Newport, 7:30 p.m., at Mercer Island Pool: The Mustangs open the season against one of the most powerful swim programs in the state as the Knights move up from 3A to 4A.
• Sept. 25 vs. Eastlake, 3:30 p.m., at Redmond Pool: Cross-town rivalry always a must-see meet.
• Oct. 14 vs. Garfield, 3:30 p.m., at Southwest Pool (Seattle): The defending co-state-champion Bulldogs lost a lot of graduation, but they always reload. This should be a stiff test for Cardwell and Co.
