Here are the Pueblo girls swimmers and divers expected to make a splash this season
The 2022-23 winter sports season is officially underway, and there are plenty of Pueblo girls swimmers and divers expected to make waves in the pool this year.
This list was compiled by the Chieftain sports staff with the help of school athletic directors and head coaches.
Here are the top players to watch this year on Pueblo girls swim and dive teams:
More:Here are the top Pueblo girls wrestlers to watch during the 2022-23 season
Pueblo County
Maggie Jagger, senior
Jagger was a state medalist in individual events and two relay events last season. She is expected to be a big part of the Hornets' leadership this year and will seek to build upon last year's successes.
Lily Knudsen, junior
Knudsen is another state medalist returning for the Hornets after medaling in two relays last year and being a finalist in a third. Knudsen hopes to continue her momentum after a strong sophomore campaign.
Shelby Essenburg, senior
Essenburg was a state finalist in the 400-meter freestyle relay as a junior and hopes to help lead the Hornets to another strong season in her senior year. The team will have its sights set on a South-Central League title.
Pueblo Centennial
Novallee Ahyo, junior
Ahyo, who also competes in gymnastics, is starting to excel in diving. She already has established herself as a skilled diver and just needs to get two more dives down, according to her coach Camille Arnold. Ahyo is a good candidate to qualify for state diving in February.
Anelise Medina, junior
In her third year competing for Centennial, Medina has her eye on a berth to the state meet. The junior notched one overall first-place meet finish during her freshman year and was consistent during her sophomore campaign, totaling five second-place finishes. She'll seek to return to the top of the podium this year.
Indy Jordan, sophomore
Jordan, in her second year with the Bulldogs, is progressing in the right direction. She finished last year with two individual wins and seven second-place finishes across several events. She is hoping to achieve faster times this year and qualify for state.
Pueblo West
Tallia Garner, junior
Garner is steadily increasing her pace each and every season for the Cyclones. As a junior this year, she is hoping to earn first-place finishes in the 50 freestyle, as well as the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
Hailey Maurer, junior
Maurer, a junior, will be on pace this year to qualify for the 4A state swim meet in the 100m breaststroke and one other individual event. Maurer will also compete on the relay team with a goal of qualifying for state.
Mckenzee Pfeifer, senior
Pfeifer, a senior diver, is expected to qualify for the state swim meet this year. She has not been able to dive at a state meet up to this point in her swimming career due to conflicting cheer nationals but will be able to attend this year. Pfeifer is considered one of the top divers in the S-CL, according to her coach, Dianne Petkoff.
Pueblo Central
Hadli Welsby, junior
Welsby is a name to remember in the breaststroke. She came out of nowhere last season to become one of the fastest breaststroke swimmers in Pueblo and is hoping to surpass her totals from last year to earn a spot on the podium in the state finals.
Isabella Arguello, sophomore
Arguello competes in the individual medley and butterfly events. As a freshman, she earned four first-place finishes and five second-place finishes across the different events she competes in. She missed out on qualifying for state last year and hopes to rectify that this season.
Molly Charles, senior
Charles is expected to be a state qualifier for diving and is one of the fastest swimmers on the team. She is one of two Wildcats divers who should qualify for state this year and could possibly qualify in individual swim events as well.
Pueblo South
Morgan Sheppard, senior
Sheppard’s experience and leadership in the pool should help shape the Colts into a contender. She has earned several first-place finishes in her career so far, but a spot on the state podium has eluded her. She'll seek to change that in her final season.
Layla Sisneros, sophomore
Sisneros is someone coach Eric Santoyo is hoping will develop into a top-flight swimmer for the Colts. She is making progress in practice and is poised for a breakout season.
Nicole Abraham, sophomore
Abraham is another sophomore Santoyo is excited about this season. She's an experienced competitor despite her youth and is expected to come on strong this season for the Colts and help solidify their relay team.
More:Pueblo's top girls basketball players to keep an eye on this season
Christopher Abdelmalek is a sports reporter for the Pueblo Chieftain and can be reached at cabdelmalek@gannett.com or on Twitter @chowebacca
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo girls swimmers and divers set to make a splash this season
