BREATH OF FRESH AIR—Thousand Oaks High senior Lauren Barnett practices her freestyle stroke. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers When the weather gets nicer, pools brim with enthusiastic swimmers hoping to transform their dog paddles into Dara Torres-like strokes.

Several local high school teams are already off to the races.

Westlake and Thousand Oaks want to continue their Marmonte League dominance while holding off worthy adversaries from Agoura, Newbury Park and Royal.

La Reina is improving under first-year head coach Kathie Duncan, a longtime instructor who’s well-respected in the swimming community.

Here’s a closer look at local teams:

Westlake Warriors

It’s no secret: The Warrior girls are favorites to repeat as Marmonte champs because of their talent and depth.

“No one’s going to touch (Westlake) in league this year— again,” Agoura girls’ swim coach Jason Rosenthal said.

FAST LANE—Junior Connor Duncan does the breaststroke during Thousand Oaks’ varsity swim practice Tuesday afternoon. IRIS SMOOT/Acorn Newspapers Nora Darago leads the way for the Warriors. The senior, who was accepted early to MIT, had top-16 finishes at the 2009 CIFSouthern Section Division 2 meet in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100 breaststroke.

Darago is also one of three valedictorians on the WHS roster, along with Iris Yan and Kimberly Ha.

Junior Abigail Puczkowski is a versatile swimmer who excels at sprints, the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle.

Sophomore Haley Preston is a solid transfer from Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. Westlake head coach Todd Irmas said Preston has the potential to win a section title in the 100 backstroke, and she’s also strong in the 200 freestyle.

Freshmen Julia Farfan (200 individual medley and 100 backstroke) and Jane Chen (100 breaststroke) have been impressive in the early going.

Cassidy Lang, who played water polo, shines at the 50 and 100 freestyle sprints.

Irmas hopes the WHS boys can challenge Thousand Oaks for a league crown.

“It will be tough,” the coach said, “but we’re going to be in the hunt.”

Irmas said Westlake, Agoura and Newbury Park should all be considered contenders.

Seniors Tom Ziccardi and Sam Chen propel Westlake. The versatile Ziccardi competes in the 200 freestyle, 200 IM, the 100 butterfly and the 500 freestyle. Chen favors the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.

David Sommers, a sophomore, swims the 200 freestyle, 200 IM, 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle.

A solid group of freshmen, including Matt Gordon, Juson Hoo, Sasha Mitrushina, Taylor Neimann and Michael Wen, bolster the team.

Thousand Oaks Lancers

The Lancer boys are deep, talented and ready to defend their league title.

It won’t be easy.

“Westlake, Agoura and Newbury Park are all strong,” Thousand Oaks head coach Mike Giles said.

“Royal has some very good

Henley Ko, a 2009 league champ in the 200 IM, is back with fellow senior Colin Wheatly, another strong individual medley swimmer who also is dangerous in the 100 breaststroke.

Giles expects both seniors to make big contributions.

Tyler Henry, David Armstrong, Spencer Boone and Alex Boone provide formidable depth.

Henry competes well in freestyle, backstroke and IM events. Armstrong is a standout sprinter. Spencer Boone is a reigning league champ in the 100 backstroke, while Alex Boone has sprint speed.

Christian Laserna is another solid all-around swimmer to watch.

With Westlake’s girls likely to dominate the top of the standings and Agoura charging behind, Giles said TOHS and Newbury Park will likely duke it out for third.

“We have a good group of girls,” Giles said. “We’ll be working hard trying to be competitive.”

A pair of water polo standouts plow through the swimming lanes. Seniors Lauren Barnett, a sprinter, and Kathryn Irwin, an all-around force, lead the Lancers.

Veronica Lin, a multisport star who played on the girls’ tennis squad in the fall, is a returning league champ in the 100 backstroke.

Emily Molen (500 freestyle), Emily Arndt (butterfly) and Emilie Turner (sprint freestyle and backstroke) also contribute.

Thousand Oaks fans should keep an eye out for Kara Barcza, who is strong in the butterfly and IM.

Assistants Raquel Karidis and Bill Gemberling, who coached the TOHS squad in the 1980s and ’90s, are assisting Giles on the pool deck.

La Reina Regents

Superstar backstroke specialist Ariana Peschke leads the Regents.

The junior hopes to make waves during the regular season and into the Division 2 meet, where she has the talent to earn a section title in the 100 backstroke.

Peschke also competes in the 100 and 200 freestyle races.

Duncan hopes Peschke isn’t the only La Reina swimmer representing her school at the section tournament.

“I hope I can get three or four girls to make individual times,” the coach said.

Other top Regents include Alex Kiefer (200 IM and 100 breaststroke), Amy Tobias (200 IM, 100 butterfly), Devon Ho (50 and 100 freestyle), Bridget Carney (200 and 500 freestyle), Beth Grode (freestyle and backstroke) and Maddie Lynch (all-around).

“I’m really enjoying this,” Duncan said. “The kids are there to work. They’re learning and progressing. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Editor’s note: Coaches at Newbury Park and Oaks Chris tian did not return multiple phone calls for this story.