Ascension Episcopal swimming eyes repeat as state champions – The Daily Advertiser

Ascension Episcopal's Ashley Gill returns to the Lady Blue Gators' swim team after winning both the Division IV 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke state championships last year.(Photo: Gerald Sierveld)

Ascension Episcopal understands what they've lost.

It's no secret that Jillian Barczyk, a six-time Division IV state champion who is now swimming at the University of Georgia,meant a lot to the Lady Blue Gators' swimming program.

And replacing her isn't going to be easy.

"You don't get a Jillian very often," Lady Blue Gators swimming coach Colleen Barczyk said. "Jillian is a very talented athlete, so replacing her is going to be very challenging."

More: Still high from state title, Barczyk signs with Georgia

But the Lady Blue Gators, who are looking to repeat as the Division IV state champions,have several swimmers who appear up to the task of filling in for what the program lost with the graduation of Jillian Barczyk and others.

"Every year, we have some new swimmers who step up during the high school season and wow me," said Colleen Barczyk, whose Lady Blue Gators will participate in the swimming meet held at the Robichaux Center on Tuesday.

"I feel there is just a little pressure," Lady Blue Gators junior Lily Dore said. "We have some new girls who are still getting comfortable, but I feel that as we go further into the season, everyone will become more confident."

Two swimmers Ashley Gill and Sophie Sierveld are going to be counted on to help lead the Lady Blue Gators this season. Gill, a highly recruited junior, was the Division IV state champion in both the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke in 2018.Sierveld, a junior, was the state runner-up in both the 100 breaststroke and 50 freestyle last year.

"Ashley and Sophie are both two great swimmers," Colleen Barczyk said. "Ashley loves to race. She's not an overthinker. I believe she is going to go very far in swimming, because she has the bug.

"Sophie, is a versatile swimmer," Colleen Barczyk continued. "She is a workhorse and someone we can put anywhere. Whatever we need Ashley or Sophie to swim, they are more than willing to do it."

Ascension Episcopal's junior Lily Dore will play an instrumental role in the Lady Blue Gators' pursuit to repeat as the Division IV swimming state champions.(Photo: Gerald Sierveld)

Gill understands there are huge shoes to be filled in the Lady Blue Gators' program, but she is excited by the challenge.

"I don't feel any pressure at all to replace Jillian," said Gill, who is being recruited by LSU, Colorado State, TCU, New Mexico and James Madison University. "This is a good opportunity for me to work on being a leader and trying to inspire others."

But if the Lady Blue Gators are going to defend their title this year, Colleen Barczyk and Gill believeit is going to take more than just two swimmers. That's where Dore, senior Mia Dardar, freshman Ella Dupuie and seventh-grader Brooke Gill come into play.

"We didn't do what we did last year just with swimmers getting first place," Colleen Barczyk said. "We had swimmers come out of nowhere last year and get some fourth- and fifth-place finishes. In the end, it took everyone for us to win a state title. We aren't going to win a state title with just one or two swimmers. It is going to require the whole team."

"Without Jillian, it is definitely going to be harder (to repeat as state champs)," Gill said. "It is going to be important that we put forth our best effort and keep a positive attitude. We can't be like, 'We can't do it because we don't have Jillian.' We have to believe."

If the early results are any indication, Ascension Episcopal is going to be a team to beware of as the season progresses.

"We are hitting times already this year that we were hitting last year when we were rested," Colleen Barczyk said. "We have already made numerous state cuts, so I believe we are ahead of the game. I'm confident that we are going to make our mark this year.

"This team is going to do some amazing things and I believe that we will again have multiple state champions."

Eric Narcisse covers high school sports for The Daily Advertiser. Email him at enarcisse@theadvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter @eric_narcisse.

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Ascension Episcopal swimming eyes repeat as state champions - The Daily Advertiser