By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – The U.S. Marine Corps, dating as far back as a newspaper advertisement in 1779, has always referred to the recruiting slogan “a few good men.” They should start at Bedford North Lawrence. That’s all the Stars have.
Numbers are down, so BNL will count on quality over quantity during the 2025-26 season. The Stars total only 11 swimmers on the roster, including five seniors. That means an extra work load for everyone in the water.
Can they handle the truth? The low body count will make meet wins difficult, just from the math standpoint.
“This will be a different year as numbers will impact the win column,” BNL coach Adam Young said. “My first five years, we had great numbers, requiring JV swims at every meet. Those tables have turned a bit. We should still be highly competitive.”
BNL will start building around the senior class of Morgan Conover, Cameron Irwin, Kason Gulley, Talon Hooten and Dustin Haltom.
“It’s a good senior class,” Young said. “Morgan has been showing some great leadership so far. He has really improved and is now one of our most well-rounded swimmers. Cameron continues to be one of the great workhorses I have coached. He has committed to the distance events and should do well in those come championship season. Talon is set to have a great senior year and will shoulder the load in the IM and backstroke.”
BNL will also count on immediate impacts from Jax McIntosh, Franklin Johnson and Lincoln Gabhart.
“Lincoln continues the Gabhart legacy,” Young said. “With older brother Garrett now swimming in college, it will be up to him to take his talents to the next level. I see no reason he couldn’t be a state-level swimmer this year.”
Maintaining morale will be a key part of the process.
”We are down in numbers, but we’re not down in spirit,” Irwin said. “We’re more connected in spirit, being united, than any year we’ve had. We have to look toward morale to get that up. Leadership is taking responsibility, not just for your actions, but the actions of everyone on the team. When one of us makes a mistake, all of us make a mistake.”
BNL will start the season on Nov. 25, hosting Edgewood.
