When the high school swimming postseason rolls around, Salisbury is often the small but mighty swim team.

The Falcons are usually one of the smaller teams in numbers, even in Class 2A. But they’re also one that seems to send swimmers to the podium at districts at a rate most larger schools can’t match. And that success often continues at the state level, as a few Salisbury swimmers annually make the trip to Bucknell University for the state championship meet in March.

This year’s team, under the guidance of first-year swimming head coach Annie Purtell, might have a bit larger of a roster than most seasons. And the team could be even mightier than in years past.

“Things are going great this season,” said Purtell, who has been the Falcon cross country head coach for two seasons before adding head swim coach to her titles. “I’ve coached most of these students before, whether in cross country, swim or track, or all three. I’ve had the opportunity to observe how hardworking they are and how to best give them feedback to support their success.

“I’ve had a lot of new swimmers join, as I had the opportunity to recruit through the other sports I’ve coached. The team is very strong this year and I’m excited to see how they do.”

The girls team will be led by senior returning state qualifiers Phoebe Ballek and Olivia Amorim.

Ballek will swim the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events this season. She’s a two-time district champ in both events and a three-time district medalist in 500.

Amorim, who will swim the breaststroke and 200 free, returns after finishing as district runner-up in both events last year. In her first two seasons of high school swimming, Amorim was a district champ in individual medley (2023) and butterfly (2024). Her versatility will benefit the team in relays and dual meets.

A senior leader on the Falcon boys team will be Emerson Juhasz, who was part of a 200-yard free relay team that took sixth at districts last winter.

Sophomore Caeden Amorim finished top five in two district events last year (4th in IM, fifth in breaststroke) and was part of two relay teams that both finished seventh at districts.

“The girls team lost no seniors,” said Purtell. “So I’m very excited to see how they do with such a large group. I expect them to have a great season. Throughout the beginning of the season, they have been very hard at work and I’ve been seeing great progress.

“I have very high expectations for the boys team. We have two freshmen who are quite fast and swim club year-round, along with three other new boys.”

Freshmen Xavier Reihman and Connor Geoghegan will help the boys team make up for the graduation of several seniors who were part of those relay teams that earned Salisbury team points at districts last February.

Salisbury does not have a pool at the high school. Before covid the Falcons’ swam home meets at KidsPeace, but for the past five seasons they have practiced at Rodale Aquatic Center and all their meets are at the home pool of their opponents.

Purtell believes that the challenge of not having a home pool can also be a benefit.

“We still do not have a pool, which certainly is difficult since we only have 1 1/2 hours in a pool five days per week,” she said. “It’s also difficult because we have no meets at the pool we practice in. However, I think it’s a blessing in disguise since it forces my students to be adaptable as they are constantly competing in pools they are not as comfortable in.”

While the team is set up for success this winter, Purtell isn’t going to judge her swimmers on wins, losses, medals or titles. She just want her swimmers to work hard, improve at their sport and learn lessons that athletics can impart.

“For all my student athletes, I just expect them to try their best everyday, show up with 110 percent effort, and have positive attitudes,” she said.

Salisbury opens the season against Moravian Academy Friday and travels to Allen on Thursday, Dec. 11.