The Mercer Island boys swim team has started their season off with a 2-0 start. Not that it’s unusual for the team to win — they haven’t lost a league meet since 2005. In fact, in the last 10 years, the Islanders have lost just seven dual meets.

This season, the Islanders intend to continue the status quo.

“When you’ve won state for so many years, you obviously want to do it again,” said returning head coach Chauntelle Johnson.

This year, the team has an additional plan, one that the seniors have had on their list for quite a while.

“We want to be academic state champs,” said senior captain Kenny Trowbridge.

Last winter the Islanders had a strong group of seniors on the team, leaving behind a slightly younger, but still large team in the pool. Over 70 swimmers turned out in November.

“We’re a lot younger,” said Johnson. “We had a lot of seniors last year, a lot of guys who were on the state team who aren’t back. There are a lot kids who were on the team last year who were chomping at the bit, and now they have that opportunity. A lot of room for some kids who are maybe trying to find their niche on the team.”

After a close first meet against Liberty, which had a 95-90 final score, the swimmers got a glimpse of just what it was going to take to accomplish their goals this year.

“We were a little sloppy on Tuesday (against Liberty). Liberty is a very good team,” said the coach. “I don’t want to downplay that, but some of the things I would have liked to see better from us. Focus is a big thing for us this year.”

Johnson said she feels the team is strong in the middle distance events, such as the 100 and 200-meter freestyle events, staples for the team.

“The 100 and 200 — I think those are good events for us. I think the 50 free is also good for us. I think that’s definitely, for us, a good thing. Especially since the 50 and the 100 are relay events, too, there’s an opportunity to shine,” said Johnson.

Getting there, focus, again, will be a big point for the team.

“Focus in general,” said Johnson of what the Islanders have been working on. “During the meets making sure we’re paying attention to details and get so caught up in swimming and racing, but then making sure we’re staying on what we are supposed to do.”

That will be key when the team takes on Bainbridge later this season, a team that Johnson said she expects to be very good.

“Everyone is important,” said the coach. “It takes really stepping up and leaving it on the deck. I’ve already seen a couple of those swims, and I was just blown away by it.”

The seniors said it was a goal last year among the guys to improve on their previous season finish. If someone made KingCo the year before, they wanted him to push for districts this season, or state.

“We want everyone to move up a spot in the postseason,” said captain Dan Simons. “It’s going to take everyone working together and being a team together.”

“It takes focus, determination and hard work by everyone,” said fellow captain Yashar Zafari. The team’s fourth captain is senior Quinn Markwith.

The team will take on Juanita this Thursday, Dec. 15, at 3:30 p.m. at Juanita’s pool. After the holidays, the team will host Newport, Mount Si and Shorecrest on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at Mary Wayte Pool.