A youth movement has hit the Edmonds-Woodway girls swim team.

Half of the 47-member squad are freshmen and sophomores, with many of the latter new to the sport.

“We have a lot of new people that are getting all the strokes down,” Edmonds-Woodway coach Kate Trettevik said.

The Warriors do have some solid experience returning, including two members of the 400 freestyle relay team — senior Rachelle Byarlay and junior Kaitlyn Melillo — that dropped significant time at districts.

That 400 freestyle relay team cut 10 seconds off its best time at the district finals last season. The search to fill the two open spots is ongoing.

“We’re really working on finding the right combination,” Trettevik said.

“We were really close to making it to state,” Melillo added. “This year we’re really going to work on that.”

Trettevik has been making some changes to her lineup in the first few meets.

“We’ve been kind of mixing up the lineup a little bit,” Trettevik said. They’re swimming different events than they normally have … we’re kind of experimenting.”

Byarlay did the 50 and 100 freestyles last season. She also is focusing on the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley this season. Her best event is the 50 freestyle.

“My goal is to go to state,” Byarlay said.

Melillo is working at improving her time in the 100 freestyle, which is about the same as it was last year at this point of the season.

Another top returner is sophomore Maren O’Malley, who is a strong backstroker and who swims the 200 individual medley. She also does the butterfly.

Other key individuals are Vanessa Kerr (breaststroke, butterfly), senior Maddie Collier (freestyles) and junior Kelly Gustafson (butterfly, freestyle).

Here is a quick look at Lynnwood, Meadowdale and Mountlake Terrace.

Lynnwood

The Royals should have a more solid team this season, according to head coach Cari Wieben.

“It seems like a really dedicated group,” she said of her 16-member squad.

Lynnwood graduated several seniors from a year ago but added three freshmen and a few new sophomores.

Top individuals include sophomore Katie Pinfield (breaststroke), junior Shannon Casey (50 and 100 freestyles) and senior Becca Hawley (backstroke).

Meadowdale

The Mavericks are led by state participant Lisa Keane, who placed fourth in the 100 butterfly and 14th in the 100 backstroke at last year’s Class 4A state meet.

Keane is a versatile swimmer but likely will continue to focus on the butterfly and backstroke.

“She can do everything,” Meadowdale coach Kati Girard said of her senior standout.

Other key Mavericks are senior co-captain Emily Hunt, a versatile swimmer who gives Girard some flexibility. Hunt’s best events are the freestyles.

“She was a person we used a lot in relays (last year),” Girard said. “She’s one of those people that when I need her I can put her in there and she’ll do a decent job.”

Senior co-captain Sabrina Williams is another top returner, who will do the backstroke and butterfly. Junior Rebekah Kneifel is strong in the backstroke and freestyles.

Meadowdale’s top prospect in the relays is the 200 medley relay team, though the specific team won’t be settled on until later in the season.

“You’re looking at who starts taking off in the event,” Girard said.

Mountlake Terrace

The Hawks are a young team, but one with plenty of potential, said first-year head coach Ashli Black.

The Hawks struggled with numbers to start out the season but this week several individuals became eligible. Mountlake Terrace now has a 17-member squad, up from 11.

“We have a lot of new girls who have so much heart,” said Black, who swam for Meadowdale. “The senior girls are pushing really hard and are exceeding what they did last year.”

The majority of the team are sophomores, many of whom have one year of experience.

“That’s good to build on,” Black said.

The standouts so far include Megan Gates (500 freestyle), co-captain Diana Hanson (50 freestyle), Michelle Lie (100 breaststroke), co-captain Sophie McDevitt (100 butterfly) and Shalea Semana (100 freestyle).