Four weeks ago, Denton area swimmers dominated the District 5-4A meet.

Two weeks ago, the same group of human fish sped past their competition at the regional meet.

Can the trend continue?

Maybe, but it won’t be as easy when six swimmers and one diver with ties to Guyer, Ryan and Argyle compete in individual events at the Class 4A state swimming meet today and Saturday on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin.

Preliminary heats are today with the finals to follow on Saturday.

“It’s going to be a tough meet but we have our chances in a lot of events,” Denton ISD swimming coach Chris Cullen said. “My advice to them is they just need to control their emotions. They need to be excited instead of scared. A lot of kids wish they were here, so I tell them to enjoy it.”

Ryan’s Robert Sutherland is the area’s best hope to medal, which is something no Denton area swimmer has been able to achieve since 2003.

He will race in two events – the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly.

“Robert is well rested and he is going to go out there and surprise some people,” Cullen said. “He is definitely a favorite to medal. And lately he has been swimming faster than what I expected.”

Sutherland, who is the regional champ in both events, is the No. 2 seed behind Richardson Pearce’s Adam Bull.

Bull’s regional time was a little under two seconds faster than Sutherland’s.

Sutherland is the ninth seed out of 16 swimmers in the 100 butterfly.

Last year he barely missed the finals in the fly event by finishing one spot below the eight-person final race.

“His experience will help,” Cullen said. “He won’t have to worry about nerves. He has been there done that. He knows the pool. He knows the routine. He knows the whole nine yards.”

Argyle’s Kimmy Phillips also has high hopes to rebound from her state meet woes from a year ago.

She has qualified for the elite meet two times and failed to reach the finals both years.

But she is hoping third time is a charm.

Cullen does not currently coach Phillips but has seen her swim a lot this year.

“I think the best I have seen her swim was in regionals,” said Cullen, who coached Phillips when she was a freshman at Guyer. “I am excited for her.”

Phillips will be racing in the 100 backstroke and the 200 freestyle. In both events she is seeded No. 7.

Also competing today will be Ryan’s Mikaela Pyrch in the 100 butterfly, Guyer’s Kyle Mahan in the 50 freestyle, Guyer’s Matt Macissac in one-meter diving, Ryan’s Kathryn Ray in the 500 free and Argyle’s Anna Rueter and Guyer’s Dawson Pritchard in the 100 breaststroke.

And while those swimmers are long shots to reach the finals, Cullen said anything can happen in Austin.

“Just because they are seeded high doesn’t mean they can’t get to the finals,” he said. “There is not much separation from the sixth seed to the 16^th seed, especially in Dawson’s event.”

Guyer’s boys 200 freestyle relay team and Ryan’s girls 200 medley relay team will also be dark horses to reach the finals, but Cullen said they will be ready to make a splash.

“It is going to take a lot to move up,” he said. “But you never know.”

In Guyer’s relay team are Mahan, Dawson Pritchard, Chase Pritchard and Robin Frei.

Participants in Ryan’s relay team are Pyrch, Mandi Sutherland, Sarah Carlile and Sabrina Carlile.

Events begin at 10 a.m. today and live updates of the races are available on the UIL’s Web site.

MATTHEW MUENCH can be reach at 940-566-6869. His e-mail address is mmuench@dentonrc.com.

Area participants in the Class 4A state swimming meet

16 qualifiers in each event

Girls 200 freestyle: Kimmy Phillips, Argyle (No. 7 seed)

Boys 200 medley: Robert Sutherland, Ryan (No. 2 seed)

Boys 50 freestyle: Kyle Mahan, Guyer (No. 15 seed)

Boys 1-meter diving: Matt Macissac, Guyer (No. 15 seed)

Boys 100 butterfly: Robert Sutherland, Ryan (No. 9 seed

Girls 500 freestyle: Kathryn Ray, Ryan (No. 16 seed)

Girls 100 breaststroke: Anna Rueter, Argyle (No. 11 seed)

Girls 100 backstroke: Kimmy Phillips, Argyle (No. 7 seed)

Boys 100 breaststroke: Dawson Pritchard, Guyer (No. 11 seed)

Boys 200 freestyle relay: Guyer (No. 16 seed)

Girls 200 medley relay: Ryan (No. 15 seed)