After competing in their closest regional meet in his four years, Lake City coach Jonathan Siegler is optimistic that this year could be the year the Timberwolf boys win a state title.

"We're really looking forward to it," Siegler said. "The top teams were only separated by six points and I'm expecting it to be exactly the same at state.”

The state meet begins today at the Boise City Aquatics Center with preliminary rounds beginning at 12:30 p.m. (PDT).

The top 16 in each event advance to the finals starting at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday.

Joe Loftus is the top seed in the 100-yard butterfly and second in the 100 backstroke and Bryce Kananowicz, who moved to Coeur d’Alene from Liberty Lake this year, is the top seed in the 500 freestyle and individual medley for Lake City.

“We’ve got a large boys team heading down,” said Siegler, whose Timberwolves team will send 16 boys to the meet. “Tyler Maryon and Brandon Penney (seeded second in the 50 freestyle), we’re expecting big things from.”

Loftus won the backstroke last year at state. The Lake City boys 400 freestyle relay team is also second.

Jessica Penney (third in 100 breaststroke) and Tiffany Portue (third in 200 IM) are also expected to contend, according to Siegler.

“We’ve definitely got a chance of winning on both sides,” Siegler said. “We’re fully prepared and looking forward to a great meet. We hope the competition is at their best so we can compete at ours.”

Coeur d’Alene coach Rich Swoboda expects the race for the boys team title to also be close.

“It’s going to be similar to the district outcome,” Swoboda said. “The talent is all in the north this year.”

Moscow won the boys district title by five points over Lake City and seven over Coeur d’Alene.

Coeur d’Alene junior Gus Koch is a defending state champion in the 200 freestyle and Ethan Cordes and Travis Griffard (second in the 100 breaststroke) is a contender for a podium (top-three) finish this week.

“The kids know what we’ve got to do,” Swoboda said. “We know the kids we’ll be racing and are used to tight races.”

Kayla Hern (50 freestyle) and Brittany Urbaniak (100 breaststroke) are also contenders for the Coeur d’Alene girls.

“We’ve got a young team this year,” Swoboda said. “Our girls are hoping to be in the top 10 this year, but it’s the same deal with Post Falls, Moscow and Sandpoint being really strong. Four of the top five teams will be from the north.”

Swoboda also expects strong showings from the Boise girls and Centennial boys.

“Boise will be right up there,” Swoboda said. “The races should be just like our regional meet.”

Post Falls won the girls district title by one point over Lake City.

Anatasia de Tar finished second in the 50 freestyle last year at state and is seeded second in this year’s race. She is also a member of 200 and 400 freestyle teams, which are seeded third and second, respectively.

“Our girls should be in the top five,” Post Falls coach Kelly West said. “It is hard to tell based on the rankings, but those (winning relays) are worth 40 points each. If we have some success there, we could place much higher.”

Ryan English and Arik Dunlow will represent the boys in the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly.