With all that has happened in the South-Western City Schools district recently, including the failed levies in May and August and the institution of a pay-to-participate fee, it would be understandable if the number of participants was down for the Central Crossing High School swimming teams this winter.

But the circumstances seem to have had the opposite effect. The numbers are up from last season for the Comets, and the atmosphere at practices and meets seems to be more upbeat than in any previous season.

"I think overall, everybody is really enjoying themselves, maybe because they do appreciate it a little bit more," third-year coach Robert Boggs said. "They know what they can lose."

"It's awesome (to have sports back)," junior captain Lauren Wagoner said. "It's nice to have stuff to look forward to other than school the next day."

Initially, Central Crossing saw a massive influx of newcomers when preseason practice began, but Boggs said many of them dropped out "because it ends up being harder than they think." Still, the Comets have 32 swimmers in the program, all of whom appear to be in it for the long haul. Last season, the Comets had 28 swimmers, and in Boggs' first season, they had just 22. When Boggs took over the program after the 2006-07 season, there were only 11 swimmers.

Last season, the boys team scored 16 points at the Division I sectional to place 12th behind champion Upper Arlington (448). Two individuals, along with all three relays, qualified to the district. The girls team did not score at sectional but did qualify one individual and three relays to district.

Neither the boys nor girls teams scored at district.

At the OCC-Central Division meet, the boys team finished seventh (56) behind champion UA (443.5) and the girls team were seventh (37) as UA (538) won that title as well.

The girls team has virtually all of its top swimmers back from last season. Leading the way are junior captains Caroline Kruczynski and Lena Beckwith. Kruczynski finished 27th at district in the 100-yard backstroke in a program-record 1 minute, 6.44 seconds. Beckwith and Kruczynski each swam on all three relays at district, and Boggs expects them to swim a variety of strokes this season.

The Comets also expect big contributions from returnees Wagoner (distance freestyle), senior Rebecca Miller (distance free), junior Alyssa Stamper (sprint freestyle, relays) and sophomore Hannah Hildebrand (various strokes). Miller, Stamper and Hildebrand swam on relays at district last season.

Boggs said freshman Hannah Wilhelm (various strokes) also could make an impact.

Also competing for the girls team are juniors Kaitlyn Conley, Chelsea Dupakoski and Kate Whitted, sophomores Morgan Lalonde and Jessica Reckner and freshmen Feven Berhe, Karly Cross, Jessy Holmes, Laura Kruczynski, Molly Lalonde, Liwam Mebrahtu, Karly Pendleton, Sami Peterson, Kali Poulson and Amy Vannater.

For the boys team, senior Nick Martin is the top returnee after setting a program record in the 200 individual medley at district last season when he finished 28th in 2:14.07. In addition to the 200 IM, he is concentrating on the 100 free this season.

Seniors Paul Hollon (100 butterfly, relays) and Justin Reckner (100 breaststroke, relays), junior Kelley Jones (sprint free) and sophomore Kyle Dyer (sprint free) are also expected to be key contributors after swimming on relays at district last season. Reckner and Dyer are captains.

Also competing for the boys team are sophomore Donovan Wonacott and freshmen Brad Fields, Jordan Messisco, Tyler Smith and Curtis Yohman.

"(In the freshmen), we can kind of see what we came from, and we can also pass on our knowledge," Dyer said. "It's kind of nice, and we want to see them succeed, too."