Having any district qualifiers back on your swimming team is beneficial. Having seven? That’s something any coach would love and, for Milton, that’s precisely what the Black Panthers have back.

Milton has Warrior Run’s Larissa Rovenolt and Mason Cohoon, in addition to Kai Aiello, Claire Dick, Brianna Holovich, Grace Snyder and Sydney Kime on the roster and all are key assets to the team.

“With the addition of the Warrior Run swimmers, our team has over doubled in size and potential,” Milton coach Lily Wirt said. “We are expecting a few challenges, lots of growth, and are looking forward to seeing how the swimmers impact and encourage each other.”

Rovenolt took fourth last year in the 50 free while Cohoon took sixth in the 200 IM. Rovenolt swam a time of 26.27 in the 50 free and was behind only Bloomsburg’s Samantha Fagan (26.01, third), Athens’ Evelyn Panek (25.73, second) and district champion Reese Charney of Jersey Shore (24.85). Cohoon finished the 200 IM in 2:20.06 as Bloomsburg’s Chase Moore won in 1:56.97.

“Mason Cohoon and Larissa Rovenolt, who both placed at the PIAA district championships last season, are the only two seniors we have this year,” Wirt said. “Our team has a wide range of experience and skill, and we expect the older and more experienced swimmers to be an inspiration to the rest of the team.”

All four of the Black Panthers’ members of the girls 200 free relay team return in Dick, Aiello, Holovich and Kime. That foursome finished ninth at districts in 2:16.67 and, while they didn’t reach the podium, that experience is beneficial and motivation to get back and do better in 2025-26.

Grace Snyder was an alternate for Milton’s girls 200 free relay team and returns this year. Milton graduated Carlie Dauberman, who was an alternate as well.

A benefit for Milton this year is its roster size. The Black Panthers have a total of 20 swimmers on the roster, which is a huge strength for Wirt and her team.

“Our biggest strength this season is the size of our team. The Milton team by itself has not been big enough in the past two years to truly compete against most of the other teams in the area, so our emphasis was on individual achievement,” Wirt noted. “Furthermore, the swimmers joining us from Warrior Run have been swimming independently for the past couple seasons and are now part of an official team. We are really looking forward to seeing how the kids work together and motivate each other as a team.”

Coach: Lily Wirt

Assistants: Ang Cohoon, Tim Wirt.

Returning state qualifiers: None.

Returning district qualifiers: Mason Cohoon, Larissa Rovenolt, Kai Aiello, Claire Dick, Brianna Holovich, Grace Snyder, Sydney Kime.

Remaining roster: Juniors: Spencer Hutton, Logan Irwin, Andrew Leinbach. Sophomores: Silas Godown, Kaylee Mortimer, Megan Stahlnecker. Freshmen: Ruby Beach, Morgan Cohoon, Rachel Goocey, Nolan Scheller, Nolan Scheller, Clara Stoudt, Julia Stahlnecker.