The Davis High boys and girls swimming teams return nine state qualifiers from last year’s Region 1 champion teams. This season, the Darts will be led by Allie Allen, Garrett Barker, Barrick Bench, Adlen Groberg, Micah Hale, Maureen Karren, Sam Landheim, Julian Shaw and Nahlia Stewart, who helped the girls place seventh at the 2023 6A state meet and the boys take ninth.

Behind team captains Allen, Barker, Bench, Groberg, Hale, Karren, Shaw, Mason Simons, Elsie Smith, Lincoln Smith and Bo Stromberg, the Davis program focused on team building in the off season while also participating in swim clinics to prepare for the season.

Head coach Kit Barker, in her ninth year, said her team’s motto this year is “If it doesn’t challenge you, it doesn’t change you,” and their goals reflect that emphasis. “I can already see a difference in the swimmers,” she said. “Instead of complaining about a hard workout, they encourage it. These kids are amazing! I love coaching them!”

The Darts began the season at the Box Elder Invitational Nov. 4 and were led by Garrett Barker, who placed first in the 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle in helping the boys take third. Stewart won the 50 free and was sixth in the 100 butterfly to lead the girls to second as a team.

“We are proud of how well everyone did in our first meet of the year,” said coach Barker. “In fact, for many, it was their first meet ever! Swimmers were more aware of technique and what they can and cannot do, so we had less DQs this year than last year. This is a meters pool and the team swims in a yards pool so it was a bit longer than they were used to, but they handled it well.”

Other top-10 placers for Davis were Landheim (second, 50 free; fourth, 100 fly), Allen (second, 400 free), Hale (third, 100 free; fifth, 200 free), Jane Bassett (fifth, 100 backstroke; eighth, 200 free), Bryson Bernhardt (fifth, 100 free; eighth, 200 Individual Medley), Karren (fifth, 100 breaststroke), Bench (sixth, 200 IM; ninth, 100 back), Shaw (seventh, 50 free), Elsie Smith (ninth, 100 fly), Stromberg (ninth, 200 IM; 10th, 400 free), Kate Whitlock (ninth, 50 free; 10th, 100 free), Lilly Wood (ninth, 400 free) and Simons (10th, 200 free). 

The Darts are also scheduled to compete in the Region 1 Time Trials Nov. 7, the Thanksgiving Invitational Nov. 17-18, at Syracuse Dec. 5, against Layton Dec. 7, at Herriman Dec. 11, at the Davis District Meet Dec. 16, against Weber Jan. 9, against Syracuse, Fremont and Farmington Jan. 12 and against Fremont Jan. 25 before the Region 1 championships Feb. 3 at the South Davis Recreation Center. The 6A state championships will be held Feb. 23-24 at Brigham Young University.

Also on the DHS squad this season are Brielle Allman, Noah Arnell, Helen Barber, Henry Barber, Jetta Barber, Ashton Barlow, Sophia Barss, Marley Bench, Colin Bennett, Branson Bown, Erin Boyce, Ava Cousins, Valery Calle, Abrielle Curry, Chloe deMasters, Ella Edwards, Joseph Griffin, Suzy Hancock, Katie Harmon, Jonah Hender, Esther Isaacson, Kali Jeffery, Madelyn Jensen, Taylor Johnson, Reese Jones, Tatum Jones, Natalie Karren, Gracie Maes, Brighton Mendoza, Maren Meredith, Mason Miller, Levi Morris, Elizabeth Neeley, Addyson Nix, Bailey Parker, McCall Parkin, Lincoln Pearson, Griffin Perkins, Austin Perry, Jackson Prisbrey, Lucas Satterthwaite, Ashlyn Sillito, Koda Squire, Logan Wong and Dallin Worthen.