The Salisbury swimming team might not have the most swimmers in the Colonial League, but it certainly does have some of the area’s best.

After successful seasons for a number of boys and girls last winter, much of that talent returns for 2017 looking to take even more steps forward. And it starts with 2015 two-time state gold medalist Mahlon Reihman.

Reihman headlines a talented group of returning swimmers for the Falcon boys. The numbers may not be plenty, but the ones that are back opened eyes a year ago. Reihman won both the 100- and 200-yard freestyle events at states and districts, a season after winning two individual medals at the state meet in 2015. The Falcon senior, headed to Harvard to continue his swimming and academic careers, broke three pool records at Salisbury’s home pool last season.

“Experience of returning swimmers and the talent we have at the top of the team [will be our strength],” head coach Patrick O’Connor said.

Also near the top of Salisbury’s list of returnees includes Daniel Bonge, who placed ninth in the 100-yard butterfly and 12th in the 100-yard backstroke at last year’s PIAA Swimming and Diving Championships at Bucknell University. The senior won the 100-yard butterfly at districts and earned silver in the 100-yard backstroke.

Ben Wiener earned top-six finishes at districts in the 200- and 500-yard freestyles a year ago. Tim Sechler-Stone, along with the trio of Wiener, Bonge and Reihman, helped the Falcons’ 400-yard freestyle relay team to district gold and 21st place in the state prelims.

“Senior Ben Weiner returns as a fantastic all-around swimmer and won districts as part of our 4x100 freestyle relay team,” O’Connor said, now in his second season.

Last year’s duo of divers Tyler Keller (first at districts) and Daniel Bujcs (second at districts) helped the Falcons gain plenty of team points each meet. Bujcs has since graduated, but Keller, who will dive at Lehigh next year, returns after taking seventh at states.

“We can’t compete one-on-one against most schools for team wins, so our focus is on districts and finishing in the top three,” O’Connor said, “and sending as many swimmers to states as possible.”

While plenty of returning talent is back in the pool this winter, one of O’Connor’s biggest challenges will be bringing along the younger, inexperienced swimmers.

On the girls’ side, the Lady Falcons’ unit will be without Kaleigh Bobeck and Rachel Costantini this winter. Bobeck came in fifth place in the 200-yard freestyle at districts and placed in the top 10 in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Kaleigh’s sister, sophomore Sarah Bobeck is one of the area’s top young swimmers. In her first season at the high school level, Bobeck placed third in the 50-yard freestyle and fourth in the 100-yard freestyle at districts..

“On the girls side we are returning Sarah Bobeck, third in the 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 freestyle at districts,” O’Connor said. “And we are returning seniors Madaket Chassard and Brooke Rogers, both great all-around swimmers and letter-winners.”

Chassard’s top finish in districts was ninth in the 200-yard individual medley. She also took 11th in the 100-yard butterfly. Rogers also returns as one of the girls’ seasoned swimmers, placing 12th in the 100-yard butterfly in 2016.

“[We need to] develop younger swimmers to get us additional points in meets,” O’Connor said.

Salisbury’s season gets started on Friday at home against Moravian Academy. The meet begins at 4 p.m. at KidsPeace.