LYMAN – The Lyman High School girls swim team spends roughly three months in the pool in the pool each season. 

The Lady Eagles don’t have a club program, no one on the team swims year-round, and a handful of them have only been swimming two to three years.

But Lyman has still managed to be successful in the water. The Lady Eagles, who finished 10th at state last year, already have seven state qualifiers – six of whom are freshmen or sophomores.

“They are doing extremely well for the amount of experience they have,” Lyman coach Rebecca Weston said. “They’re putting in a lot of time and effort.”

Lyman took third as a team on Saturday at the Southwest Invite with 157 points.

Sophomores Harper Hewitt and Samantha Weston both earned first-place finishes to lead the Lady Eagles, who graduated three swimmers and two exchange-students from last year’s team.

Hewitt took home the gold in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:12.02, while Samantha Weston won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:20.88.

“Our team has definitely grown since the very beginning of the season,” Hewitt said. “We’ve pushed each other and learned how to work together and we’ve definitely succeeded.”

Hewitt has already earned state-qualifying times in the 200-yard individual medley, 50 and 100-yard freestyle, along with the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly.

“I definitely thought I was going to be better than I was last year, but I didn’t think I would have this many events under my belt at this point in the season,” Hewitt said. “I’ve definitely been putting in a lot more work at practice, and I definitely am trying to have a better attitude when I’m at practice. I think that’s helped me.”

Samantha Weston and fellow sophomore Brooklyn Busskohl both have qualified for state in four events this season. 

Weston has made the cut in the 200-yard individual medley and 200-yard freestyle, along with the 100-yard breaststroke and 100-yard freestyle. Busskohl has qualified in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly, along with the 200-yard individual medley and the 500-yard freestyle. 

“I think our team is doing tons better than last year,” Busskohl said. “We’re all working so hard.”

Three freshmen and a junior have also hit state-qualifying times.

Freshman Brynlee Busskohl has qualified in the 100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle. Freshmen Emma Beck (100-yard freestyle) and Kira Walk (500-yard freestyle) along with junior Nikayla Garner (100-yard freestyle) round out the state qualifiers for Lyman, so far, this season.

“I’m really impressed with them,” Rebecca Weston said. “They’ve been working extremely hard. I think we’ll make a good showing at state.”