The Parkland girls’ swimming team went a perfect 11-0 in the East Penn Conference (13-0 overall) last season. As the 2015-16 gets underway for head coach Rob Robitaille, there is once again plenty of optimism around both sides.

And starting with the girls’ end, why wouldn’t there be? While the Lady Trojans did graduate a number of key swimmers-including Erin Jordan (state medalist in the 500-yard freestyle) and Erika Freeman (14th in 200-yard IM and 16th in 100-yard backstroke at states)-the cream of the crop returns looking for similar success in 2015.

In helping last year’s girls place fifth at the PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships, senior Siena Salvaggio earned gold in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles. Along with Salvaggio returning, Parkland also brings back senior Victoria Connolly (fourth in 500-yard freestyle at states, silver medalist at districts in 200- and 500-yard freestyles) and Kelsey German (17th at states in 1-meter diving). Salvaggio and Connolly also swam in the Lady Trojans’ two relay teams at states.

“We are going to need all of our athletes to improve themselves, and get themselves to be the best swimmer they can be in order to have a chance to achieve our past levels of success,” Robitaille said. “Our returning state team from last year (Salvaggio, Sicinski, Connolly, German and [Kira] Karopoulos) are all going to have a lot to say about our success this year.”

Depth will be a key part in replacing the seniors that Robitaille did graduate. And along with Karopoulos, a senior that placed fourth in 100-yard butterfly at districts, there is plenty of young underclassmen talent.

Junior Serena Johnson (fourth in diving at districts) and sophomores Megan Sicinski and Courtney Sicinski (fourth in 100-yard breaststroke) are back looking to take another leap forward.

“We need to develop our depth more than ever this year,” Robitaille said. “If we are to be successful, it will be because these kids worked their butts off everyday with grit and determination.

“We have good depth in the IM, middle freestyle and breaststroke [events].”

The boys graduated Adam Sicinski (a district gold medalist in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles) and Anthony Coates (fifth in districts in the 500-yard freestyle).

Returning to the pool, however, is a veteran group of swimmers who is hungry after finishing 9-2 in the EPC last winter. Junior Christopher Lehman won districts in diving and placed 14th at states, and his teammate, junior Jonathan Hansell, finished three spots behind him in district diving. Juniors Hyunbin Kim (sixth in 100-yard butterfly and 7th in 200-yard freestyle) and Matthew Engler (seventh 200-yard IM), along with sophomore Ian Johnston (10th in 200-yard freestyle) are also back.

Robitaille also has his eyes set on a number of newcomers expecting to do big things, including Ali Lin, Abigail Sheridan, Zoe Sheridan and Noam Maymon.

The goal, besides remaining competitive in the EPC and District 11 ranks, is to better many of his athletes’ times over the next couple of months.

“[My goal is] having 85 percent of our athletes drop 5-15 percent off of their current lifetime best,” Robitaille said.

Emmaus, Easton, Liberty, Freedom and Southern Lehigh expect to be competitive with the Trojans on both sides for both league and district crowns.