Two years removed from the Sedona Red Rock High School boys swim team winning the state championship in 2009, the Scorpions find themselves looking to add another trophy to the mantel in 2011.

As for the girls, their 16th place finish at the Division II State Championships in 2010 was a result of only eight girls on the team; this year, there are at least 20.

Second-year Head Coach A. Jay Bronson finds himself pinching his arm ever so often, trying to wake himself from the current dream he’s in. There are 46 swimmers in the pool for the Scorpions in the first two weeks of practice, by far the best turnout in several years.

“Last year we had 27 total kids with only eight girls; now I have 46 and it’s incredible,” an excited Bronson said. “This will help us at meets this season with the numbers problem.”

Top returners for the Sedona boys this season include senior Brandon Stewart who should be the top sprinter for the Scorpions in 2011 in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.

Junior Jacob Decker returns looking to beat some of his older brother’s records in the 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley. Evan Decker graduated this past May.

As for junior Hank Svensson, he is expected to be the top 100-yard breaststroke swimmer for Sedona and shouldn’t be too bad in the 50-yard freestyle either.

Top newcomers for the boys include two freshmen in Tristan Decker and Skylar Richardson. Decker should compete in the 100-yard breaststroke and 50-yard freestyle while Richardson is looking to do well in the 500-yard freestyle swim.

For the girls, top returners include two senior captains in Olivia Luyckx and Portia Griefenberg. Luyckx is a top 100- and 50-yard freestyle swimmer while Griefenberg will look to dominate the 100-yard butterfly in 2011.

Senior Alyssa Millar joins them as a top returner and should be involved in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle events.

As for the newcomers, freshmen Mara Leake and Emily Aitken could give the girls program a reason to believe in the future.

According to Bronson, Leake will participate in the 100-yard breaststroke and 50-yard freestyle events while Aitken is a 100-yard backstroke specialist.

“For our boys, I think it’s a legitimate goal to be a top five contender, and maybe even higher. The girls should be in the top 10 as well this season at state,” Bronson said.

Sedona is scheduled to open the season Thursday, Sept. 1, with a home meet in the newly rebuilt Sedona Community Pool.

The Scorpions will play host to Phoenix Christian and Wickenburg high schools in a three-way meet in Sedona.

The Division II State Championships are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 4 and 5, at the Skyline Aquatics Center in Mesa.