It’s a promising sign of togetherness in the eyes of Kansas University swimming coach Clark Campbell.

Athletes aren’t forced to stick around Lawrence during the summer months, but roughly two-thirds of the KU women’s swimming and diving team did anyway, training with the Lawrence Aquahawks club team, training with themselves and preparing for another expected solid year of swimming on Mount Oread.

KU enjoyed its most successful season this decade with a third-place finish in the Big 12 Conference championships in May. Apparently, the finish did plenty to pump up the Jayhawks, who have shown time and time again that they’re ready to expand their successes even further.

“I’m very excited,” said Campbell, who will begin his third year as KU’s head coach. “This team is just starting to see its potential. One of the things we see is that among KU sports, we’re one of the better ones. They’re taking a lot of pride in the fact that Kansas is starting to get synonymous with swimming again.”

Leading the way, once again, will be decorated senior Amy Gruber, KU’s lone qualifier for the NCAA championships the past two seasons. Gruber brings priceless versatility to Campbell’s squad, showing success in both freestyle sprints and a number of other strokes. She competed in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 butterfly at the NCAA championships in March, placing in the top 35 in all three events.

“She can swim every stroke but breaststroke,” Campbell said. “She’s a good sprinter, but she can do a lot of other things.”

Several other swimmers have proven reliable as well. Junior Gina Gnatzig, the school record holder in the 200 backstroke, placed fourth in the Big 12 Championships, but narrowly missed an NCAA invitation. She and Gruber stayed in stayed in Lawrence to train this summer.

“You can already see it starting to pay off for both of them,” Campbell said.

Miranda Isaac, Hanna Bakke, Becca Zarazan, Lindsey Urbatchka and Aly Colver are also expected to contribute heavily this season.

Kansas senior Amy Gruber -- KU's lone NCAA championships qualifier -- spent her summer swimming with the Lawrence Aquahawks.

Eight incoming freshmen show promise. Among them is local talent Lindsey Herre of Bonner Springs, a former state champion while at Overland Park Aquinas.

The Jayhawks also look strong in diving, with Shelby Noonan returning with an NCAA invitation in sight. Noonan, a sophomore, competed in the Zone D Diving championships in Houston last March, and placed 12th in both the one-meter and three-meter competitions.

This year, Noonan will get new guidance. Eric Elliott was hired in May to replace former diving coach Brad Szurgot.

“He is incredibly energetic and enthusiastic,” Campbell said.