With just seven or eight swimmers at most meets this season, it may look like the Renton girls swim team is just treading water. However, with some great quality swimmers, though still lacking in quantity, the Indians are improving.

Sophomores Eloisa Bautista and Tala Hild became the first Renton swimmers to make state in 11 years when they qualified last season. Both are back and even better.

Renton coach Diane Pavelin said the Indians already have numerous district qualifying times, spurred on by the fact Renton has dropped to 2A this season.

“It would’ve been nice if we were at 2A for the last few years,” Pavelin said. “For a sport like swimming it would’ve been the right level for our team. We can compete on the 2A level. It’s a little tough to do that on the 3A level.”

Hild qualified for state in the 100 fly earlier this season and is close in the 100 breaststroke. Bautista is also on the verge of qualifying for state.

Pavelin said Renton’s medley relay team is close to qualifying for state. The relay, made up of Hild, Bautista, junior Lynhda Vuong and junior Tonie Canlas, barely missed going to state last year.

“Those four started talking immediately after they missed state last year about making state this year,” Pavelin said. “They started crunching the numbers, figured out who has to drop time. As a foursome those four have been focused from day one on getting that medley to state.”

Pavelin has noticed two shifts in direction with the team this season. The first, starts with Renton’s core group of swimmers (Hild, Bautista, Vuong and Canlas). All four are underclassmen. In the past the majority of Pavelin’s swimmers started as juniors and seniors, which made it hard to improve. Now, the Indians are getting talented – and young – swimmers.

“It bodes well for the next couple of years,” Pavelin said. “Before it was juniors and seniors turning out for the first time, then we lose them. You really can’t build on your numbers or experience when that happens.”

The other shift is in postseason expectations. Before, the girls hoped to do well at the league meet and maybe make districts. Now, the team is talking about placing well at districts and going to state.

“The swimmers have shifted their focus without a lot of poking and prodding from me,” Pavelin said.

The district meet is Nov. 4-6 at Hazen. The state meet is Nov. 12-13 at King County Aquatic Center.