PHOTO PROVIDED Ashlynn Barlett of Hughesville swims the 100 breast at the District 4 championships last year. Barlett brings experience back for Hughesville, which has four independent swimmers this season.

The area will once again have independent swimmers this year looking to make noise in swimming and reach the District 4 championships in late February.

Hughesville’s independent swimmers were no strangers to the District 4 championships and look to have similar success this year.

Last season, Alex Farley was a bronze medalist last year at districts in the 100 free in 50.64, behind only Lewisburg standout Mason Ordonez (47.19) and Athens’ Ethan Hicks (49.89). Farley also took fifth in the 50 free in 22.92.

Farley graduated, but the Spartans have four swimmers on its roster this year, including two with district experience.

Luke Siperko was a district qualifier last year in the 100 breast when he swam a 1:17.79 to take 10th and also was a 10th-place finisher in the 100 fly (1:07.28). He’s back this year and primarily will swim the 50 free and 100 fly.

On the girls side, Hughesville’s Ashlynn Barlett is a returning district medalist. She was a bronze medalist in the 100 breast in 1:12.97 and was just more than a second from taking gold as Danville’s Hannah Bartholomew won in 1:11.84. Lewisburg’s Jillie Donner took silver with a time of 1:12.45 as her and Barlett swam a tight race. Barlett also competed in the 100 free and took fifth in 57.97, finishing just behind Jersey Shore’s Kate Butzler.

Barlett will swim both events again this year.

Hughesville’s other independents are Evelynn Meckbach, who competes in the 50 free and 100 back, and Sophie Yoder, a swimmer in the 100 breast and 100 fly.

Hughesville’s swimmers will compete in numerous duals and invitationals this year.

Hughesville will swim on Dec. 11 in a dual between Williamsport and Lewisburg, on Dec. 13 in a dual between Milton and Jersey Shore, in a tri-meet at Central Columbia on Jan. 7, in a dual between Bloomsburg and Danville on Jan. 15, in a dual between Williamsport and Shamokin on Jan. 22, in a dual between Milton and Danville on Jan. 24 at the Muncy YMCA, a dual between Milton and Bloomsburg at the Muncy YMCA on Jan. 31 and in a tri-meet at Williamsport on Feb. 4.

During the regular season, independent swimmers aren’t credited with top 3 finishes in final results, but their times count toward district qualifying standards.

Muncy has one independent swimmer this year in Logan Diehl, a swimmer who’s far from unfamiliar with districts. Last winter, Diehl was a district qualifier. Diehl was a sixth-place finisher last year in the 200 IM with a time of 2:12.77. He also reached the podium last year on Day 2 of the district championships with a fourth-place finish in the 500 free with a time of 5:19.16, just ten seconds from taking home a bronze medal.

Hughesville swimmers: Ashlynn Barlett (100 free, 100 breast); Evelynn Meckbach (50 free, 100 back); Sophie Yodier (100 breast, 100 fly); Luke Siperko (50 free, 100 fly).

Muncy swimmers: Logan Diehl