Coaches Russ Neal and Wendy Neely, for Decatur and Thomas Jefferson, respectively, have different kinds of talent on their teams this year.

Raw and ready.

TJ has the 'raw,' and Decatur has the 'ready.'

It's easy to see as 1,2,3...or, in simpler terms, the Gators beat the Raiders, 142-87, and, that was without the Gators having their top swimmer competing in races that happened at the Weyerhaueser King County Aquatic Center pool in a South Puget Sound League North dual meet Thursday.

"We have a couple good ones, Tommy Cunningham and Robert Sobus," said Neal. "Tommy placed high in two events. He is a freestyler and a backstroker. Robert Sobus is in the 200 and 500 free."

That's two swimmers there, and freshman Tanner Brotherton is a third who also has loads of experience in the water despite being on the young side of things classification-wise in high school swimming.

"He's a phenomenal flyer and freestyler," said Neal. "He might have a year or two to go before state. But he should go to districts in those events."

But Cunningham and Sobus are 'there' already, ready to do things at the biggest meet of them all, leading this team to where they were five years ago, state champs in 4A boys swimming.

Well, maybe not...

"We're not the best team, but we're good," said Sobus.

Cunningham is the best swimmer on the team, and, in his events it may be known when state rolls around in mid-February that he is the best in the state. Cunningham's state final qualification times in the freestyle events the past three years explain how good he is. So explaining his goodness is his effort he puts into it. The old saw is true: you get what you pay for. Tommy invests in year-round club swimming for King and is actually taking off the high school swimming time right now until January.

So he's not even in attendance now for high school dual meets like this one against the Raiders.

"His club coach does not want him competing in high school swimming now," said Neal.

Which is fine, because Cunningham gets great coaching and swims in from King and he will be around in January when the bulk of the dual meet season starts up.

Neely, on the other hand, would welcome a big-name swimmer like Cunningham who is 6-4 and lanky) into her TJ boys swimming program. And a few more big names would help too. Actually, even one big name would help Neely. Asking around the TJ team, that is, asking their swimmers about how much experience they have and what they have done in districts, state, or even league and the answers are few and far between what one wants to hear if competing for a league title is concerned. Two the 20 something swimmers were randomly asked how things were going this season for them swimming for TJ.

"I just started this year," said Chris Lee, a sophomore.

And, James Bowen a like classmen, said, "This is my first year."

That kind of random answer from a question is not a good thing and Neely extrapolated a lot more on that subject for all to become a little more in the know of this huge unknown.

"We have a whole team of first year swimmers," said head coach Neely, who five years ago coached the state champ TJ team. But that was then.

Now things are challenging, to say the least.

"I am always up for a challenge," said Neely, mentioning, 'We had 15 kids that didn't know how to breathe to the side. Basically two-thirds have never swam competitively. We have only one-third returning, and, mostly we have a lot more sophomores and freshmen."

But there is good news in that rawness. Things can get molded into talent as the season, and, years, for that matter, progress.

"It's a fresh start," said Neely. "The goal is kids sticking around for next year, and get some retention."

On the bright side as far as this season goes, the TJ kids are, well, they're bright, said Neely. And more.

"They are really kind, nice, smart, considerate," she said. "When you don't have a big strong winning team, this is the kind of team you want to have."

Neely mentioned Jordan Gaspay as one to watch in the future. And here is where the 'raw' word comes in, as this one swimmer epitomizes everything going on in boys swimming at TJ.

"We have a freshman, Jordan Gaspay, who has some swimming background," said Neely.

Neely mentioned Chase McLaughlin as a raw talent, too. In fact, several came to mind in that way.

"We have a lot of kids with raw talent, but don't know what to do with it," she said.

For the Gators, they have their captain, Sobus, who knows exactly what to do with his talent.

"I took 16th in the 500 free at state last season," said Sobus. "I made it to state in the 200 free, too. I'm not being pushed right now. I'm having pretty easy swims.

Windsor Wu is one that Neal was getting a score card from before an event Wu was to swim in. Wu, a sophomore, is a move-upper from last year, if you will.)

"He is moving out of JV, which is where he was last year, into a scored event (on varsity)," said Neal. "He has shown a lot of improvement, cut down a lot of time on his stroke and has refinements in the 50 and 100 free."

Chris Ngy is a senior that swims the 100 breastroke, winning it against TJ. Neal speaks of Ngy and others that should step up regarding high hopes for relays qualifying for state.

"Hoping to have a couple relays go to state, the 200 and 400 free," said Neal. "We are really strong in those."

Pure fast swimmers Cunningham and Sobus are one-half of that strength, giving the Gators a couple right there that will get them a long ways. Two more like them and the Gators may even challenge for a state championship in a distance relay event like the 400 free.

Neal is in his first year coaching the Gators and the swimmers there like what they see in his approach, if captain Sobus has anything to do with it.

"He makes us work hard at practice and listens to my input," said Sobus. "I like him a lot, he is cool."

Hopefully the season can be cool for the Gators.

The goal is simple said Neal.

"To take leagues," he said.

Neal thinks this team can improve over last year's 4-3 SPSL North mark. So does Sobus.

Better than last year?

"Oh yeah," said Sobus. "Way better."

And Neal. You expect to do better than 4-3 too?

"A lot better," said Neal. "Oh yeah. We will do a lot better."

Besides all the others mentioned, who all won their races, Keith Arns, who won the 100 butterfly in this dual, competed last year in league and did well according to Neal.

"We are getting things underway, this is our first actual league meet,' said Neal.