As an assistant coach, Theresa Mattingly got to know the Glenwood Springs girls swim team well. Now, as the recently named head coach, she looks to set the bar higher for the 2003-04 team.

“My expectation is to see times drop and improve our placings at the state meet,” Mattingly said.

With four returning state finalists on the roster, it appears the Demons have the talent to accomplish Mattingly’s goals, and reach beyond last season’s fifth-place team finish at the 4A state meet.

Another plus for the first-year head coach is team depth. Mattingly said there have been as many as 25 swimmers at team practices at the Hot Springs Pool this preseason.

Mattingly also has a core of seniors to turn to for leadership.

Three of those seniors ” Alina Roberts, Michelle McReynolds and Audrey Schaiberger, will all see time in the swim relays, as well as in their individual events.

Roberts and Schaiberger, along with with Lindsey Snyder, led Glenwood to fourth place at last year’s 4A state 200-yard medley relay finals.

Roberts is a student at Aspen High School. Snyder attends nearby Rifle High. Both swim for Glenwood because their schools do not offer swim teams.

In addition, Roberts and McReynolds took sixth as members of the 200 free relay at state and McReynolds and Schaiberger were members of the Demons’ state finalist 400 free relay team.

Mattingly said Roberts will participate individually in the back and sprint freestyle events, where she has compiled some impressive times.

Last summer, swimming for the Sopris Barracuda club team, Roberts competed in the women’s 50-meter freestyle at a USA swimming-sanctioned meet in Mount Hood, Ore., posting a 28.83-second time.

As a backstroker, Roberts took sixth at last year’s state finals.

McReynolds, a state finalist in the 500 freestyle, will swim in that event again in 2003-04. Schaiberger is penciled in for action in the butterfly events.

Other returning lettermen Mattingly expects big things from are Bridgette Jankowsky in the freestyle and Jennifer Betts in the medley.

Additionally, Mattingly said, returnee Cori Barnes “will be moved around a lot,” event-wise this season.

Glenwood suffered a key loss with state qualifier Rachel Rey’s move to Fort Collins.

That loss will be offset, however, by the addition of freshman Emily McDonald.

Although she has yet to compete at the high school level, the 14-year-old has taken command, according to Mattingly.

“Emily trains hard, is a go-getter and is one of our leaders in the pool,” the coach said.

McDonald has been a longtime member of the Barracudas and fashioned an impressive record in the past few years.

Last summer, McDonald finished 13th in the 50-meter freestyle (27.64) in Oregon. A week later, competing in the Colorado Long Course Championships in Fort Collins, McDonald set lifetime bests while winning the 50- and 100-meter freestyle, then topped it off with a second-place time in the 200-meter free and fourth in the butterfly.

More help comes from Rifle students Katie Julius, Deborah Rausin and Katie Long.

The Demon diving team lost Amy Ackerman to graduation, and senior Celeste Cashel has opted to take the winter season off. Glenwood does return state 4A silver medalist Kelly Hauskins and Allee Wine is also back for her sophomore season.

Glenwood’s season opens with meets at Gunnison on Dec. 5, followed by a relay meet at Montrose High School the next day.