Chad White is hoping his team can equal or better last year’s fine season.

With all of the top swimmers and divers returning except one, the Chambersburg boys team is looking forward to having a banner season this winter.

And last year wasn’t bad, either — the Trojans were 8-2 to place third in the Mid Penn Commonwealth, beat Cumberland Valley for the first time in many years, took fourth in District 3 and was 14th at the PIAA Championships.

The only significant loss was a big one, PIAA champion diver Nick Cover.

But Chambersburg coach Chad White believes he has enough firepower returning, plus improvements in other areas, that his team has the capability of doing even better this year.

“We’d like to match or beat last year’s record if we can,” White said. “And we have a lot of potential for the postseason. We’re hoping to be in the top three in the Mid Penns and districts and in the top 10 in states.”

Avery Barley was fifth in the PIAA meet in the 100 backstroke.

Those are realistic goals for a team with two verifiable stars.

Jacob Greenwood and Avery Barley are now seniors, and have already had three very good seasons.

Last year, Barley took fifth in the state and first in District 3 in the backstroke, and was 11th in the butterfly at the PIAA meet.

White said, “Avery looks good — he put on some muscle and he looks fantastic in practice.”

Greenwood, who will swim at Penn State next year, placed seventh in the 500 freestyle at states (1st at districts) and was ninth in the 200 free (seventh at districts).

“We may use him some in the 100 free and IM this year, too,” White said. “He has not gotten faster yet, but he’s set up to have a good season.”

Jacob Greenwood placed seventh in the 500 freestyle at states.

Junior C.J. Pong qualified for the PIAA meet in the 200 IM (sixth in districts) and backstroke (12th at districts). Those three swimmers and sophomore freestyler Aiden McMillen reached states in the 400 free relay.

White said, “C.J. is focusing on his underwater dolphin kicks, and we may use him in the 100 butterfly instead of the IM. His goal is to be top eight at states.”

Several other Trojans, in addition to McMillen, are key scorers in dual meets, and White hopes they can contribute points in the postseason, as well.

He included junior Michael Johnson (“He’s strong in the backstroke and medley relay,” White said); sophomore Gavin Vink (“He’s looking very strong this year”); sophomore Colby Estep (“He made districts in the 500 free and we hope he can score there”); sophomore Sam Vessah (“He’s a sprinter and he picked up where he left off”); and freshman Jake Shifler (“He’s got a great attitude and works hard; he has a lot of potential for the next couple of years”).

If the ace swimmers can keep scoring big points in the postseason and more teammates can produce other points, it should be another fine season for Chambersburg.

White said, “I tell our kids that Pennsylvania is the second-fastest state in the country in swimming, and District 3 is the second-fastest district in the state, and the Mid Penn is the second-fastest league in the district.

“So we will face good competition the whole way, but they’ll be prepared for the big meets.”