PROSSER -- It hasn't taken Mackenzie Gant long to make a big splash for the Prosser swim team.
And after two meets, it's safe to say she's earned the status as a freshman phenom.
Less than three weeks into her first season she already holds three school records (100-yard backstroke, 200 freestyle, 500 free) and doesn't appear to be doing anything but getting faster.
With that done, now it's time to think about qualifying for state. But she's not the only one on the small, but talent-rich Mustangs roster who is eyeing the state meet.
Prosser, in just its eighth season with a swimming program, is at the beginning of what could be its most successful season.
"It's pretty exciting," said third-year coach Rhonda Baker. "Right now they are crunching all those records."
Gant, who swims for the Tri-Cities club team, entered the record books Saturday in Yakima -- her first varsity meet.
Gant, whose favorite stroke is the back, swam a 1:09, breaking the school record by nearly three seconds. She broke her own record Tuesday with a 1:07.61 and now sits less than a second away from the 2A state qualifying standard of 1:06.99.
Gant also broke the school record in the 200 free Saturday with a 2:17.83 and is less than six seconds away from a state qualifying time. She shattered the 500 free school record Tuesday with a time of 5:54.33 and is less than three seconds from a state qualifying standard.
"Everybody hopes to get a little Mackenzie Gant," Baker said.
But don't think for a minute the Mustangs are just Mackenzie Gant.
Prosser, which qualified three relay teams for state last season, didn't waste any time making sure one of them gets back there this season.
Prosser earned a state qualifying time of 2:05.53 in the 200 medley relay at last week's Eastern Washington Relays. Now the goal is to whittle that time down and add to the contingent.
Senior Ruthie Watkins, who was on three state relay teams, is back and ready to make amends for last season's district showing.
Watkins entered the meet as the No. 1 seed in the butterfly, but pushed it too hard and did not even make the finals.
Watkins has followed the same path as Gant early on, breaking the school record twice in the fly, most recently Tuesday with a time of 1:10.13 (state standard: 1:06.99)
Sophomore Bre Beierle, who was on two state qualifying relay teams, is also back along with classmate McKenna Elliott. Both also qualified for state as individuals -- Beierle in the 100 breaststroke, Elliott in the 100 back -- but neither placed.
Sophomore Hanna Rankin, who has started the season on the relay teams, is one of the team's best free-stylers along with fellow sophomore Kellie Gabriel.
Two years ago Prosser qualified its first relay team for state. Last year, it was three teams and two individuals that went to state.
This year, Baker is hopeful the Mustangs can take a next step that has yet to be determined.
"We are really excited about what these girls can achieve," Baker said.
CBL 4A
It was bound to happen sooner or later, and this just happens to be the year that Richland should struggle a little. The Bombers graduated 18 swimmers from last year's team that finished 4-1 in dual meets. Richland returns four state qualifiers in Jenna Mehlenbacher (200 and 400 freestyle relays), Lizzie Anderson (200 free relay), Carrie Dotson (200 and 400 free relays) and Liz Dotson (diving) to lead the young Bombers.
Wenatchee, which ran away with the district title last season, is the clear favorite to repeat. Wa-Hi returns three state qualifiers led by Sarah Hicks (50 free, 100 butterfly), but suffered a loss when sophomore Annie Erickson -- who finished sixth in the 100 backstroke last year -- decided not to turn out because of conflicts with her club program.
The Blue Devils still expect to compete near the top of the league with 27 swimmers and should get some added points from freshman Tori Jones, the younger sister of two-time state champion Carl.
Moses Lake, led by state qualifiers Catherine Polito and Stephanie McFarland, also could challenge.
CBL 3A
Southridge looks to be improved with a core group of returning swimmers and divers. Senior diver Katrina Peterson is back after earning a wild-card to state, and the Suns should get some help from her younger sister Tristan along with Katie Smoot. Stephanie Hamilton leads the list of returning swimmers after qualifying for state last season in the backstroke. Junior Karin Cross (500, 200 free) is another returning place-winner from district as is senior Samantha Lyons (500, 100 free).
Kamiakin will be without the services of Erin Holmes, who placed at state in two events last season and has since moved on to the University of Maryland. But the Braves had a solid core returning for a young team that graduated eight seniors. Senior Richelle Harvey (fly) and her sophomore sister Pamela (breast) are returning district placers, while junior Kayla Sanders, who finished ninth at district in the backstroke. Kaitlin Kessie (sprints), senior Meaghan Guagliardo (distance) and Kelsie Duncan (diving) and Julie Kimball (diving) should all make key contributions to the Braves.
Kennewick, which finished last at the district meet, is led by seniors Catherine Schweppe (100 fly) and Traci Bentrup (500 free, 200 free), both who placed in the consolation finals at districts last season.
Hanford has increased numbers from its third-place district team, but has been hit by some early adversity as two of its top swimmers had their appeals denied by the District 5 eligibility committee, barring them from swimming at varsity meets. Sophomore Megan Maynes does return for the Falcons after placing in the 200 at districts.
CWAC
Prosser looks to take the next step with a small, but talented core group of swimmers led by senior Ruthie Watkins and sophomores McKenna Elliott and Bre Beierle, all of whom competed on the 200 medley and 200 free relay teams that placed at state last year. Freshman Mackenzie Gant already has three school records and could see herself at the state meet later this year.
Grandview fields its biggest team to date with seven swimmers.