First-year head coach Al Bostdorff has his work cut out for him, as he takes over the helm of Tamaqua's swimming program.

Bostdorff is a Texas native that has been garnering experience in the coaching department throughout the area.Most recently, he led the swim teams at the Hazleton YMCA. Before that, he served as the head coach of the Tamaqua youth swim teams, where he amassed nine consecutive Anthracite Championships over a five-year span of winter and summer seasons.During that stint, Bostdorff familiarized himself with some of the Blue Raider student-athletes at a younger age. Now, four years later, the new coach has the chance to direct some of those same athletes on the high school level.Graduation reared its ugly head with the Raider swimming/diving program in June, leaving this year's teams with a combined 18 participants. With 11 females and seven males, this is proving to be one of the smallest teams fielded by Tamaqua in recent history.Bostdorff is welcoming the challenge, however."The teams were decimated by graduation," Bostdorff explained. "I'm definitely facing the challenge of fixing the problem. They're a small group, but they're a good group of kids. With the lack of experience and depth, however, it will be a rebuilding year and we'll be in the trenches, trying to fix it."As a newcomer to the program, Bostdorff is attempting to get to know his team, and is relying on his captains in order to transition smoothly.Senior Danielle DeCindio and sophomore Rebecca Kanaskie are serving as the co-captains for the girls' team, and for good reason. Kanaskie earned her way to the PIAA State Swimming Championships a year ago as a freshman, and is hoping to improve upon those results."She had a great season a year ago and made it to states in the IM," Bostdorff said. "Danielle, as a senior, is also proving to be a great leader and I'm counting on them to make things easier."Junior Ben Turrano (fly/free) will be the captain of the boys' team for the Blue Raiders, after enjoying some success last season as well."He's a leader and he really stepped up," Bostdorff said. "I challenged all the kids and I told them I need leaders in the pool and in the classroom. The kids that want to be there will be there."After a few seasons without a diving board in Tamaqua, the issue is settled and the diving team can continue to develop and train. Bostdorff is excited about their opportunities, saying, "We definitely have a couple of promising divers back this year in Thorn Devlin (Jr.) and Emma Rago (Sr.)."Emma is a developing and promising diver, while Thorn is just a terrific athlete that is showing a lot of promise after a breakthrough season last year."This season, the Schuylkill League is implementing a home/away schedule, adding to the list of challenges. In the past, each team in the league would swim against each other one time throughout the regular season. However, this season, a team will face their league opponents once at home, and then at their opponent's natatorium, as well.The Blue Raiders open up their schedule next Wednesday at non-league opponent, Southern Lehigh, serving as a good test for the Raider swimmers.Because of the obstacles the Raiders will be facing, Bostdorff realistic as to what his program's goals are."We're going to take our lumps this year, I think," he said. "Our goals are to enhance the skill level of the kids we have, have them enjoy the sport, and improve upon their individual goals."If the Blue Raiders can accomplish these tasks, the improvement should take care of itself."We'll try and be competitive, but depth-wise, we just don't have the numbers this year," said Bostdorff. "We're going to do the best we can with what we have."