As the synchro team heads into the season, its main focus is on having a strong final sections and state meet for seven senior swimmers. Rose Evensen, a senior on the team, believes the seniors’ experience is beneficial to the swimming program. “This group of seniors has all been swimming since junior high and it makes us really strong,” Evensen said. Evensen said the experience of this year’s senior class allowed each other to be more comfortable during practice and meets. Head coach Linda Gust has been coaching synchro for more than 40 years, 20 years of them at the high school. This season she said she looks to the seniors on the team for leadership in order to come away with strong results in meets. “Before picking captains we told them that every one of them was captain material and should all be leaders on the team,” Gust said. Gust said she expects leadership from all the senior athletes because of their experience in the sport. She said she hopes it will help the team prepare for another strong postseason. The team placed third in state last season and participants are looking ahead to this year’s run for similar results. Evensen said she believes the team has the opportunity to attain similar results because of the additional extended team competing this season. “We have enough people for three extended teams which is exciting because we have the opportunity to take more places away from other teams at state,” Evensen said. Extended refers to the division the swimmers compete in, with the other two divisions being short and long. They refer to the length of the routines in each division; the longer the routine, the higher the division. A third extended team is a large service to smaller teams because of the greater opportunity to place in state. Senior captain Jenna Frank said the experience the seniors on the team have will be a large advantage. “If you go into the state meet knowing what it’s like and are prepared for what’s going to come, I think it will help a lot,” Frank said. The returning members, third extended team and experience are all factors the seniors hope they can take advantage of as they head into another tough season. “I think because we did perform so well last year, some energy and excitement carries over and helps to motivate us for the upcoming season,” Frank said. The synchro team is to compete next on May 1 at Edina Middle School against Edina and Wayzata. The team will host its dress rehearsal at 4 p.m. May 13 in the high school pool.