2025 HS swimming and diving guide

Hanover swimmers cheer for their teammate Landes Hough as he competes in the boys 200-yard medley relay during a swim meet hosted at the CCBA Witherell Recreation Center in Lebanon, N.H., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Valley News / Report For America - Alex Driehaus) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Hanover swimmers cheer for their teammate Landes Hough as he competes in the boys 200-yard medley relay during a swim meet hosted at the CCBA Witherell Recreation Center in Lebanon, N.H., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Valley News / Report For America - Alex Driehaus) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Alex Driehaus

Stevens’ Aubree Herzog competes in the girls 100-yard freestyle during a swim meet hosted at the CCBA Witherell Recreation Center in Lebanon, N.H., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Valley News / Report For America - Alex Driehaus) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com.

Stevens’ Aubree Herzog competes in the girls 100-yard freestyle during a swim meet hosted at the CCBA Witherell Recreation Center in Lebanon, N.H., on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. (Valley News / Report For America - Alex Driehaus) Copyright Valley News. May not be reprinted or used online without permission. Send requests to permission@vnews.com. Alex Driehaus

By PATRICK O’GRADY

Valley News Correspondent

Published: 12-16-2024 6:31 PM

Hanover will again be a contender for the NHIAA Division II state championships as both the boys and girls have strong teams this year. The girls will look to defend their title while the boys, champions two years ago and runner up last year, look to reclaim the top spot.

Lebanon welcomes six new swimmers — a freshman and five sophomores — and Stevens’ senior Sara Gaspard, who finished among the top swimmers at last year’s Division II state championship meet could be joined at states by senior Aubree Herzog.

HANOVER

Swim coaches: Trent Staats (4th year), Linda Bedford (10th), Sean Uiterwyck (5th), Fritz Bedford (10th year).

Diving coach: Carl Renshaw (10th)

Last year: Girls were NHIAA Division II state champions. Boys were runner-up.

League: NHIAA Division II

Swimming

Returners, boys: Seniors — Aiden Caulfield, Theo Cook, Coulson Lloyd-Clare, David Viazmenski. Juniors — Gabe Clerkin. Gael Popescu, Miles Vogt. Sophomores — Landes Hough. Girls: Seniors — Iris Freeman, Elizabeth Staats, Claire Uiterwyk. Juniors — Adelaide Cesanek, Ellie Molina, Sofia Ye. Sophomores — Sage Freeman, Ruby Lintner

Newcomers, boys: Freshmen — Alex Chen, Jain Vidhaan, Max Lewandoski, Isaac Welch. Girls: Seniors — Layal Arafa. Juniors — Bianca Nusca-Dagon. Sophomores — Maddie Waller, Sofia Korkina. Freshmen — Miriam Al-Nimr, Joy Cheng. Kerwin Faulkner, Charlotte Hourdequin, Katherine Matter, Ryan Reed, Milla Starkey.

Diving

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Returners, girls: senior Ella Tullar

Newcomers, girls: Freshmen — Lucy Berger-Kimball, Lidia Rosenbloom. Boys Sophomore — Duncan Sawyer

Outlook: The girls won five straight division II championships (2017-2021) and after two runner up finishes, were champions again in 2024. With many of the contributors from last year back they will contend once again. Added to the mix is a lot of new swimmers.

“The team has a great energy, and we’re looking forward to seeing what they can accomplish this year,” coach Trent Staats said.

The boys were champions two years ago and like the girls bring back several of the team’s top contributors, though they did graduate the state champion and runner-up in the diving competition, which factors into the overall scores for the state championship.

“The dive team is rebuilding, but if our athletes perform to their potential, we have a great chance of coming home with a state championship,” Staats said.

LEBANON

Coach: McKeanna Teevens (5th year)

Last year: N/A

League: NHIAA Division II

Returners, girls: senior Molly Russell, sophomore Ava Polk. Boys: senior Andrew Prince (Mascoma)

Newcomers, girls: Sophomores — Caitlyn Johnson, Anna Vecherina, Taylor Youngman. Freshman — Hailey Belardo. Boys: Sophomores — Andrew Berndsen, Bennett Russell.

Outlook: Lebanon has a solid mix of veterans and newcomers that coach McKeanna Teevens believes has potential.

“Our more seasoned swimmers are working hard to make an appearance at states,” Teevens said. “Those new to swimming have great potential and have progressed developmentally just during our preseason alone. They will see a lot of growth this season.”

STEVENS

Coach: Abbey Rouillard (8th year)

Last year: Sara Gaspard was fourth in the 50-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard butterfly at the NHIAA Division II state championship.

League: NHIAA Division II

Returners: Seniors — Sara Gaspard, Aubree Herzog

Newcomers, girls: Sophomores — Emilee Hall. Freshman — Raegyn Brothers

Outlook: Stevens has a small team but Coach Abbey Rouillard believes they could have solid individual success. She is confident Gaspard will live up to expectations and qualify again for the state meet. Herzog, who nearly qualified last year in the 50-free, will look to get over the top and join Gaspard at states. Brothers and Hall are both new to high school swimming this year but not new to swimming as they previously swam at the recreational level.

“I’m hopeful they can also qualify for the state meet at the end of the season in at least one event,” Rouillard said.