Excuse Mike Ahrens if he gets caught up watching reruns of the first season of American Idol.

When the Bettendorf swim coach stands on the deck and watches his team compete, he can't help but be reminded of 2002, the year the popular TV show debuted and the year his squad brought home a state title.

"In terms of body types and personalities, there are a lot of similarities there," Ahrens said.

In 2002, Bettendorf qualified a dozen swimmers and took home four state titles. As the Bulldogs eye the championship Saturday in Marshalltown they have qualified 10 and have plans of at least matching that 2002 title haul.

The juxtaposition of the two teams comes easily on the surface. Both squads were led by a small senior class, had juniors doing the heavy lifting and had sophomores as emerging stars.

But when he starts looking in the water, that's when the reruns really start pulling big ratings. In Ahrens' mind, the two swimmers who size up closest in and out of the pool are Erin Petty from 2002 and current Bulldog Margaret Barber. Both swimmers are freestyle specialists and became intense once they stepped on the blocks. Ahrens considers both clutch performers.

"Sometimes, possibly they could rub people the wrong way, but you wouldn't want any other girl in that position to swim for you because they won't accept losing," Ahrens said.

Petty took home the state title in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle in 2002. Barber placed fifth in the 200 free and eighth in the 100 free last year.

If Caitlin Campbell is the one every Bulldogs swimming fan knows today, in 2002 that would have been Megan Lonergan.

"They both are notorious for dropping big times at the meet," Ahrens said.

Lonergan is a volunteer coach for the Bulldogs. While she doesn't see the similarities the way Ahrens does, she admitted to seeing "bits and pieces" of the 2002 team in the current squad.

"The seniors I had set the tone," Lonergan said. "These seniors now are the leaders and they help everyone through."

Molly Coonce is the Bulldog Lonergan said is most similar to her.

"She gives it her all every day. She's someone I look up to as well," Lonergan said. "I think we would have trained really well together if we would have been closer in age."

Out of the pool Ahrens stacked up a pair of sophomores.

"Rachael Schermer really reminds me of Shannon Schoening as far as their kind of goofiness and the way they ask some strange questions," Ahrens said.

Ahrens also compared current swimmer Rebecca Alves and former Bulldogs standout Andrea Ryan.

"They're both on the verge of greatness. I think that Rebecca as a sophomore is realizing that she's going to be an integral part of this run and for sure a part of our success the next two years also."

Iowa state qualifiers

Bettendorf: Cat Vercillo, Rebecca Alves, Caitlin Campbell, Molly Coonce, Rachael Schermer, Margaret Barber, Amanda Miller, Sarah Thompson, Kylie Hershberger, Elizabeth Fry

Muscatine: Sarah Martin, Hannah Eichelberger, Jennifer Littlejohn, Laura Ewalt, Haley Bartlet, Ariann Calderon

Davenport Central: Mary Betsworth, Emma Shie, Katie Beale, Annie Delleman

Pleasant Valley: Gabbie Stecker, Allie Stecker, Kelli Golinghorst, Kayla Kruse

Davenport North: Marguerite DelVecchio, Katharine Ross

Davenport West: Paige Wolfe,

Haily Kitzmann

Clinton: Libby Hess