MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette Correspondent Parker Johnson of Williamsport swims the butterfly in the boys 200 medley relay during an invitational last year. Johnson is one of nine swimmers back who qualified for the state meet last year.

No matter what lineup coach Brett Johnson put together for the Williamsport boys or girls swimming relay teams, they found success. Like a scientist in a lab, Johnson experimented with various lineups. This swimmer leading off, this swimmer as the fourth leg. It all worked out in the end when late February and March rolled around.

That’s when those experiments resulted in Williamsport claiming numerous state qualifiers in the relays.

And, luckily for Johnson and the Millionaires, a lot of those swimmers are back yet again this year to build off that success.

Williamsport brings back nine swimmers who qualified for the PIAA Class AAA swimming championships in Parker Johnson (boys 200 medley relay, boys 400 free relay); Keller Griswold (boys 200 medley relay, 100 free, boys 200 free relay); Brady Ross (boys 200 medley relay, boys 200 free relay); Kendall Cohick (girls 100 fly, girls 200 free relay, girls 100 back, girls 400 free relay); Dylana Richards (girls 500 free); Brady Ross (boys 500 free, boys 200 free relay); Kiley Persun (girls 200 free relay, girls 400 free relay); Cooper Allmaras (boys 200 free relay, boys 400 free relay) and Evan Summers (boys 100 breast, boys 400 free relay).

Williamsport had 14 swimmers reach the state tournament last year, including alternates, and that depth of talent proved valuable. With nine back with state experience, that’s experience that’s invaluable for Williamsport’s swimmers.

“Last season we had a great finish with all of our swimmers and divers that qualified for states. I think that those that did not make it do look at the others and want to improve and it makes those swimmers set larger goals,” Johnson said. “It brings a level of leadership and work ethic to the team.”

With the success of the relay teams last year, expect that to be another strength for the Millionaires this winter.

“I believe our relays will be very tough once again this year. We do have a lot of work to do with a little bit of new personal and relay transitions, but once that is all ironed out, we will be good to go,” Johnson said.

In addition to the swimmers who qualified for states, Williamsport also has back Max Fink (200 free, 100 free) who qualified for the District 2-4 Class AAA boys swimming tournament. On the girls side, Clover Lindsay (diving), Kiley Persun (200 free, 500 free), Tianah Williams (200 IM, 100 breast), Aviya Halstead (50 free), Naomi Lee (50 free, 100 breast), Addison Hill (50 free), Kyla Becker (100 fly, 100 breast), Lily Judge (100 fly), Olivia Godfrey (500 free) and Maddy Lundy (100 back) all were District 2-4 Class AAA qualifiers.

All of that talent back means the Millionaires will be able to once again put up tons of points in duals, invitationals and meets throughout the winter.

Williamsport did graduate a handful of talented swimmers including Aubrey Glosser — who claimed gold at districts in the 200 free and bronze in the 100 free — and two-time silver medalist Molly Garrison in the 50 free and 100 free. Not to mention Cal Hockman (relay gold, silver in the 50 free) and LJ Shaffer (fourth in the 100 free).

Diving wise, Williamsport will have two big spots to fill as the Millionaires lost district bronze medalist Lily Lindsay and district fourth-place finisher Dom Horning. But while those two talented divers graduated, Williamsport does bring back Clover Lindsay, who got experience all year diving and routinely had good scores in competitions.

Griswold was a silver medalist individually last year at districts in the 100 fly in 53.15, missing out on a gold medal by just 0.10 seconds behind Abington Heights sophomore Jason Casper.

“All of the success we have had in the last couple years has provided a lot of goal setting, which continues to provide great results for the swimmers,” Johnson said.

Williamsport’s girls 200 medley relay team returns three of its four swimmers, as does the Williamsport boys 200 medley relay team which won gold last year with Johnson, Griswold and Ross, two seniors and a junior, respectively. Hockman was the fourth member of that team.

The Williamsport girls 200 free relay team returns Persun, who was a freshman last year, and Cohick, a junior last winter, who both made it to states thanks to winning gold by a second at districts. Garrison and Glosser graduated from that team.

Williamsport’s boys 200 free relay team, which won a district title, also returns three of its four swimmers in Ross, Allmaras and Griswold. That relay squad claimed gold in 1:29.22, winning by a second.

The Millionaires have talent scattered throughout its lineup, from various individual events that suit numerous swimmers to the relays, there’s no weak spots in Williamsport’s lineups.

“I feel that we have a team that really works hard and has been very dedicated and driven to do well as a team. I think we will have some really good leadership from our returning seniors Keller Griswold, Kendall Cohick, Kendall Brouse and Tianah Williams,” Johnson said. “And, I think that the relays are going to be very strong and provide a great start to meets which I think will motivate everyone to do well in their individual events.”

Williamsport also has a strong group of underclassmen who can step up this year and make an impact.

“We do have a few new swimmers that are going to provide some depth to the team. It will be exciting to see the growth and maturity of these freshmen as the season progresses,” Johnson said. “I am expecting a lot of good things.”

Coach: Brett Johnson

Assistants: Kelsie Buckwalter, Beverly Nuttle, Jeff Beatie (diving).

Returning state qualifiers: Parker Johnson (boys 200 medley relay, boys 400 free relay); Keller Griswold (boys 200 medley relay, 100 free, boys 200 free relay); Brady Ross (boys 200 medley relay, boys 200 free relay); Kendall Cohick (girls 100 fly, girls 200 free relay, girls 100 back, 400 free relay); Dylana Richards (girls 500 free); Brady Ross (boys 500 free, boys 200 free relay); Kiley Persun (girls 200 free relay, girls 400 free relay); Cooper Allmaras (boys 200 free relay, boys 400 free relay); Evan Summers (boys 100 breast, boys 400 free relay).

Returning boys district qualifiers: Parker Johnson (200 free, 100 breast); Max Fink (200 free, 100 free); Evan Summers (200 IM); Cooper Allmaras (200 IM, 100 back); Keller Griswold (100 fly),

Returning girls district qualifiers: Clover Lindsay (diving); Kiley Persun (200 free, 500 free); Dylana Richards (200 free); Tianah Williams (200 IM, 100 breast); Aviya Halstead (50 free); Naomi Lee (50 free, 100 breast); Addison Hill (50 free, 100 back); Kyla Becker (100 fly, 100 breast); Lily Judge (100 fly); Olivia Godfrey (500 free); Kendall Brouse (100 back); Maddy Lundy (100 back);

Roster: Nathaniel DePrenda, fr.; Alex Martyniuk, so.; Ryan Saxe, fr.; Evan Weaver, fr.; Lynnae Campbell, fr.; Allie Eberhart, fr.; Chelsey Harrison, sr.; Addison Hill, so.; Miley Johnson, fr.; Lily Judge, so.; Rowen Kreisher, fr.; Payton Paules, fr.