Area swim teams had more of a season last winter as opposed to their counterparts in the higher-risk sports, but last season was still highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, things will head to a more normal as virtual meets are a thing of the past and the Vikings will be welcoming opponents into their natatorium for the first time since the 2019-20 season.

It will also mark the end of an era as 30-year coach Scott Warner is entering his final season. He recently completed his final season as the girls’ coach with the recent New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

The Vikings have lost some of their top swimmers in Sean Zupko from last year’s team, along with Nick Suchy, Nate Walker, Luke Roberts and Jacob Smith, but Warner will welcome a wealth of newcomers.

He said half the team will be made up of new swimmers.

Returning will be seniors Kellen Dickman and Nathaniel Storaska, and juniors Tim Grabinski and Tom Grabinski as the Vikings look to be as competitive as possible with a small team. Warner is also looking to qualify at least one swimmer – hopefully more – to the NYSPHSAA championship meet from March 3-5 at Ithaca College.

“With this being my last year, we are hoping to get our team established and slowly rebuild coming out of our virtual season last year,” Warner said.

The Bushmen have a listed roster of 11 swimmers, including three seniors, Jack Gandolfini, Lorenzo Hernandez and Charles Hufcut. The Bushmen have one junior, Andrew Donaldson, and the rest of the team is made up of sophomores and freshman.

The Bushmen, however, aren’t expecting to lose any key swimmers from last year’s COVID-19 season.

The Vikings will open their season by hosting New Paltz on Thursday, while the Bushmen will open the season – also against New Paltz – in a road meet on Tuesday.