Dana Peiffer sees no reason to rock the boat.

Peiffer is the new boys swimming coach at Cedar Falls. Hes replacing Dick Marcussen, the man who created the program and led the Tigers to four state titles, including the last two in succession. A deck full of talent returns .

And Peiffer himself is no stranger to coaching — or the Tigers. Hes been the head man at Waterloo West and NU High. Last year, Peiffer served as a volunteer assistant to Marcussen. His son, Chris, swam for the C.F. team that won the 2004 state championship.

Finally, Peiffer began talking to Marcussen about the change over a year ago.

So Peiffer is very familiar with the program. He wants others to share his comfort.

My goal is basically for the parents and observers of swimming not to feel a lot of change as far as the program and the success as a team, he said. The biggest thing I want them to see a difference in is the face on the deck.

Peiffer said succeeding Marcussen is a bit daunting, but thrilling.

I dont think it has 100 percent soaked in yet, he said. Im very excited — probably a little bit of nervousness hanging on. Im taking over the top program in the state. But Im more excited than anything. I enjoy the swimmers on this team, and I know them. They grew up swimming small age group with my son, so Ive known them a long time.

High school swimming fans know the Tigers well, too, because they have been successful at the varsity level for a long time.

Junior Nick Cordes, for instance, is a two-time champion in the 100 backstroke., and he won the 50 freestyle at state a year ago. Cordes has also contributed to a pair of gold-medal relays.

Jordan Wessels helped the Tigers win a quartet of relay events over the past two championship runs. Seth Wessels won the 2004 state individual medley and swam on two first-place relays.

Throw in state meet veterans like Patrick Davis, Andy Peck, Alex Stone, Tyler Verink, Ryan Willett and Aaron Zander, and heres what you have: Of Cedar Falls state qualifiers in 2005, only Raymond Holz has graduated.

The Tigers have more than a mere chance at a third straight title.

Right now, I would say this is one of the strongest teams Cedar Falls has fielded, said Peiffer, who expects a test from Cedar Rapids Washington at state. We certainly have a lot of returning state qualifiers plus probably three or four swimmers that certainly look to qualify for state.

Waterloo West head coach Virgil Haley brings back a quartet of letterwinners, three of whom have state meet experience. Individually, Chuck Christensen has been a top-five finisher three times in the last two years. Hes also the lone returnee from the 400 free relay team that was second at the 2004 meet.

Jordan Stokes and Sam Voigt have also reached the state meet for the Wahawks. On the other hand, a large cast of veterans have departed, among them Sam Christensen, Bill Johnson, Seth Meaney, Marcus Charles and Dirk Myhr.

We have good kids, said Haley, who has 25 swimmers on the squad. We dont have that ready-to-go ability we had a year ago. But Chuck Christensen will always be important to us. Hes been a state qualifier since his freshman year.

Waterloo East, under head coach Steve Oaks, returns nine letterwinners from its 2004-2005 squad.

Contact Jim Sullivan

at (319) 291-1434 or jim.sullivan@wcfcourier.com

CEDAR FALLS TIGERS

HEAD COACH Dana Peiffer

Dec. 3 At Ames Invitational, 11:30 a.m.

Dec. 10 Marcussen Invitational, 11:30 a.m.

Dec. 15 At Cedar Rapids Kennedy, 6 p.m.

Dec. 17 At Iowa City West Invitational, 11 a.m.

Jan. 5 At Dubuque Hempstead, 6 p.m.

Jan. 7 At Wahawk Invitational (Central Middle School, Waterloo), noon

Jan. 10 At Waterloo East (with C.R. Xavier), 6 p.m.

Jan. 14 At Cedar Rapids Washington Invitational, 12:30 p.m.

Jan. 17 At Iowa City/West, 6 p.m.

Jan. 21 Muscatine (At UNI Wellness and Recreation Center), 11 a.m.

Jan. 24 Waterloo West, 6 p.m.

Jan. 28 At Mississippi Valley Conference meet (Cedar Rapids Washington), 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 11 - At District meet (Marshalltown), 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 18 At State meet (Marshalltown), noon

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (14) Patrick Davis, Alex Stone, Tyler Verink, Seth Wessels, Ryan Willett, Aaron Zander, Nick Cordes, Austin Creswell, Curt Toppin, Kevin VanHeiden, Jordan Wessels, Jack Kosmicki, Cam Knight, Andy Peck.

WEST WAHAWKS

HEAD COACH Virgil Haley

Dec. 1 East and Decorah, 6 p.m.

Dec. 6 Iowa City West, 6 p.m.

Dec. 10 At Bobcat Invitational (Marshalltown), 11 a.m.

Dec. 13 At Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 6 p.m.

Dec. 15 At Marshalltown, 6 p.m

Dec. 17 At Cedar Rapids Washington, 1 p.m.

Jan. 5 Dubuque Senior, 6 p.m.

Jan. 7 Wahawk Invitational, noon

Jan. 14 At Fort Dodge Invitational, 11 a.m.

Jan. 24 At Cedar Falls, 6 p.m.

Jan. 28 At Mississippi Valley Conference meet (Cedar Rapids Washington), 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 11 At District meet (Marshalltown), noon

Feb. 18 At state meet (Marshalltown), TBA

RETURNING LETTERWINNERS (4) Chuck Christensen, Tristan Euritt, Jordan Stokes, Sam Voigt

EAST TROJANS

HEAD COACH Steve Oaks

Dec. 1 At Waterloo West (with Decorah), 6 p.m.

Dec. 3 At Boone Invitational, 10 a.m.

Dec. 20 Vinton-Shellsburg and Decorah, 6 p.m.

Jan. 7 At Wahawk Invitational, noon

Jan. 10 Cedar Falls and C.R. Xavier, 6 p.m.

Jan. 12 Linn-Mar, Decorah and Vinton-Shellsburg, 6 p.m.

Jan. 19 Vinton-Shellsburg and Decorah, 6 p.m.

Jan. 26 Decorah, Xavier and Linn-Mar, 6 p.m.

Jan. 28 At Mississippi Valley Conference meet (Cedar Rapids Washington), 12:30 p.m.

Feb. 2 VintonShellsburg and Xavier, 6 p.m.

Feb. 11 At District meet (Marshalltown), noon

Feb. 18 At state meet (Marshalltown), TBA

RETURNING LETTERWINERS (9 ) Nick Weber, Chris Nichols, Derek Bell, Curtis Lane, Andy Bush, Sam Shull, Lucas Shull, Matt Anderson, Kevin Nenig

NOTE All home meets for East and West at Central Middle School