With city and CIF championships just around the corner, the La Jolla High School (LJHS) swim and dive teams are once again prepared to make a run at the title. “I think we’re going to be right there with the top four or five teams in the county,” said head coach Tom Atwell. Last year, the LJHS boys’ team took home the CIF crown. After losing several stars to graduation, the squad has used a more all-around approach this season. Relying more on its depth, the team has steadily improved throughout the spring and Atwell said he has enjoyed the challenge of keeping his team competitive. “This year it’s more of a team effort,” Atwell said. “It’s been kind of fun this year because the fourth- and fifth-place finishes have really mattered.” The Vikings might not boast the same number of heavy hitters as they did in 2009 but there is still some serious talent lurking in the LJHS pool. Leading the way for the boys is Eric Hedlin, a speedster who has a chance to break the school and CIF record in the 500 freestyle. “My goal for the end of this year is the school record and for my senior year, the CIF record,” Hedlin said. Hedlin’s talent has brought confidence to the rest of the team. Outside the cozy confines of La Jolla, the junior has also found success on the international level. He will be competing this summer in Barcelona and also has legitimate expectations to make Canada’s team in the 2016 Olympics — not bad for a local who moved to the area when he was just a month old. Another standout competing for the Vikings is Alex Polyak. The senior is known for his blazing speed in the 100 breaststroke, where he, too, has a shot to break the school record. He has also done exceptionally well in the classroom, which has earned him admission to Johns Hopkins University next year. On the girls’ side, the swim team is led by Heren Alanis. The junior excels in the 100 freestyle, where her outstanding skills bring a power presence to the team. “She’s an amazing swimmer. She’s really fast,” said teammate Allie Knight. “She’s very outgoing and everyone loves being around her. She’s fast and has a great spirit.” Knight is also leading LJHS in her own right. A multi-dimensional swimmer, she regularly competes in the 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. This may sound like a lot of swimming, but the senior takes her heavy workload in stride. “I train to swim a lot of events so I’m prepared for it,” Knight said. As a senior, Knight’s leadership has helped shape the younger swimmers for years to come. Her hard work has also paid off, as she will be competing for University of California, Santa Barbara in the fall. The Vikings dive teams have also excelled in the past and continue to do so now. The boys are led by senior Kirk Lee and sophomore Quinton Mendoza. The girls boast up-and-coming sensation Sierra Beeson. “The dive team has done very well,” Atwell said. “For the City [Conference], they’ve been real dominant.” It may be a long shot for LJHS to repeat its success from a year ago. But with the depth and talent the Vikings have on their roster, anything could happen.