FAYETTEVILLE — A pair of individual state champions helped guide the Fayetteville swimming and diving teams last season.

But with those two record-breaking Bulldogs now gone, it will take a collected effort for Fayetteville to improve as a team in the pool this year.

Jenny Holtzen, the state-record holder in the 200-meter freestyle, led the Lady Bulldogs to a fourth-place team finish last season at the state swimming championships. On the boys’ side, Parker Meineke was the indiviual champion in 1-meter diving as Fayetteville finished seventh as a team.

Holtzen and Meineke have graduated, though, leaving a younger but talented Purple’Dogs roster behind.

“We lost some key individuals, but it was just a few,” Fayetteville swim coach Mike Kaminski said. “Overall we’re a young team this year. We’ve got a lot of sophomores on our team, but I’ve noticed that they’re a really tight knit group of kids with a great attitude. They hang around each other and come to the workouts excited to get to work.”

While Fayetteville will count on underclassmen to carry a big load this season, there is senior leadership to go along with the talented youth. Senior Josh Parisi finished 10th in the 200-meter individual medley at last year’s state meet and 10th in the 100-yard backstroke.

Parisi, who was also part of Fayetteville’s state qualifying 400-meter freestyle relay team, will be one of Fayetteville’s top returners this season along with his younger brother, sophomore Matt Parisi, who was a member of the Bulldogs’ 220-yard medley relay team at state last season.

Junior Ben Heil, a 500-yard freestyle state qualifier, will also provide experience for the Bulldogs.

The Lady Bulldogs have a strong senior class, Meineke believes, led by state meet participants Hannah Martin and Grayce Randolph. But even younger team members could provide the depth to make the difference for Fayetteville this year.

Sophomore Erin Farrah finished runner-up at state in the 1-meter diving competition as a freshman and will contend for a individual title this year. Classmates Macy Valentine and Madysen Bailey competed at state in the 100-meter freestyle and 200-yard freestyle, respectively, and will be expected to give the Lady Bulldogs plenty of options.

“I think we do have some of thos key individuals this year like in the past, with the Parisi’s and with some strong seniors on the girls side,” Kaminski said. “But I would say the balance of our team is our biggest strength.”

Fayetteville Swim Schedule

Date Opponent Time

Dec. 13 Fayetteville Holiday Invitational# 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 14 Siloam Springs Invitational% 3:30 p.m.

Jan. 26 Hendrix Invitational 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 7 Springdale Har-Ber Invitational# 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 District Diving Championship% 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 12 District Swimming Championship# 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 22-23 State Diving Championship at UALR TBD

"#" at Jones Center for Families, Springdale

"%" at John Brown University