In her rookie season as Sequim’s girls swim and dive coach in 2011, Anita Benitez had a bit of recruiting to do. Just eight athletes started the season.

This fall, she’s got 32 Wolves in the pool.

“Something’s got to be working,” she says.

The Wolves look to improve not just in wins but in times as well, as all but three or four non-seniors are back for the 2013 season.

That includes district meet qualifiers Dani Barrow (200 IM, 100 fly), Emily Van Dyken (diving), Cassandra Calderon-Castro (200 free relay) and Jessica Craig (200 free relay).

In early season workouts, Sequim’s 200 free relay team — Barrow, Calderon-Castro, Craig and Fitzpatrick — is just three seconds off a district-qualifying time.

But Benitez says she is setting goals apart from results for Sequim’s 2013 team.

“Our goals are to have fun and enjoy our swim season,” Benitez says. “I think this year is going to be amazing.”

Benitez and Mark Pincikowski — Sequim’s diving coach and assistant swim coach — have 15 athletes brand new to swimming’s competitive side.

Calderon-Castro and Richardson are team captains.

The Wolves were slated to open their season Sept. 17 at Kingston — results were not available at press time.

Sequim is at Port Angeles on Sept. 19 and host Port Townsend Sept. 26.