Bair was a four-time state qualifier in Class AAA competition, a four-time B finalist at states and claimed six individual school records.

She also was part of two Central Mountain relay teams which set school records and is currently at West Virginia for the Mountaineer’s swim team.

The Wildcats also graduated state qualifier Jonathan Hughes.

Two types of swimmers like that leave big holes, but first-year coach Carol Matheney, who takes over after Scott Bair stepped down, knows her team has swimmers who can step up.

DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Central Mountain is without Abrianna Hosley this year, who graduated after qualifying for districts last winter. The Wildcats have a number of district qualifiers back this year, however, in Evie Albright, Sloane Coakley, Gabby Hosley, Zoe McElroy, Kaylie McCloskey, Lily McWilliams, Neil Kaluzny, Che McAllister, Raiden Newcomer, Brayden Packer, Jake Rembold, Brody Rhine, Rhys Swift and Holden Long

“Yes, Camryn will definitely be missed along with Jonathan Hughes for their years of experience and helping our new swimmers with their starts and race strategy,” Matheney said. “But we have a unique situation this year: we have all veteran swimmers. That means when practices starts we can go.”

The Wildcats bring 14 swimmers back who experienced districts. That includes relay swimmers Gabby Hosley, Anna Stahl, Kaylie McCloskey and Lily McWilliams along with “a deep bench of girls who can pack on the points,” according to Matheney.

“On the boys side, we have a solid group of guys led by Rhys Swift, Brody Rhine and Holden Long or distance events, Brayden Packer and Jake Rembold for the short, power events and double bonus backstrokers Neil Kaluzny and freshman Christian Briggs,” Matheney said. “Che McAllister and Raiden Newcomer are our breast strokers, they are going to be key in our meets.”

Matheney also noted that due to having such experienced swimmers who are well rounded in the pool, it will help the team fill in holes here and there and be quite versatile.

In addition to the aforementioned swimmers listed who are back that experienced districts, the others who return who swam at the District 6 championships are Evie Albright, Sloane Coakley and Zoe McElroy and on the boys side, Holden Long was a freshman and experienced districts.

Coakley, Packer, McWilliams and McCloskey were silver medalists in the 200 medley relay last year with a time of 2:11.22. Sloane was a seventh-place finisher in the 50 free while McCloskey finished eighth and Albright took ninth.

McWilliams and Coakley both swam in the 200 free and took sixth and seventh, respectively.

In the 100 fly last winter, Gabby Hosley took third with a time of 1:02.67 and trailed only State College’s Sawyer Barshinger (first, 59.56) and Inhye Sung (second, 1:02.40).

Stahl and Gabby Hosley swam in the 200 free relay last year which took home a silver medal alongside Bair and Abrianna Hosley and swam a 1:44.90. Stahl was a sixth-place finisher in the 100 free last year at districts and McCloskey finished seventh.

Kaluzny and Newcomer swam on the Wildcats’ boys 200 medley relay team which took bronze in 1:48.12 alongside seniors Hughes and Cory Matejovich. Long took fifth in the 200 free. Kaluzny also swam with Swift, McAllister and graduated senior Bryce Warren to take third in the 200 free relay.

Kaluzny took fifth in the 100 free by shaving two seconds off his seeded time. In the same event, Newcomer took eighth and McAllister ninth.

Newcomer finished fourth in the 50 free with a time of 24.94. Packer tied for seventh in the event.

Swift was a fourth-place finisher in the 200 IM last year by swimming a 2:19.08, shaving three seconds off his PR. Swift was a fifth-place finisher in 5:25.31 in the 500 free.

Central Mountain has a talented roster and, while swimmers like Bair and Hughes were extremely talented and helped secure numerous wins in duals, tri-meets and invitationals, Matheney knows her returning swimmers are capable of keeping the Wildcats successful both as a team and individually.

“My expectations for the 2025-26 season is to have an over-500 record, add to our district qualifier list,” Matheney said. “And to have our opponents a little worried when we talk into the pool areas.”

Given the talent on the roster, opposing swim teams likely will be a little worried in competitions.

Coach: Carol Matheney

Assistants: (not available)

Returning state qualifiers: None.

Returning district qualifiers: Evie Albright, Sloane Coakley, Gabby Hosley, Zoe McElroy, Kaylie McCloskey, Lily McWilliams, Neil Kaluzny, Che McAllister, Raiden Newcomer, Brayden Packer, Jake Rembold, Brody Rhine, Rhys Swift, Holden Long.

Remaining roster: Juniors: Erin Market, Trinitie Rossman. Sophomores: Harper Coleman, Anna Stahl, Amelia Svederus, Erin Thompson. Freshmen: Zaylie Warren, Christian Briggs.