Kamiak defeats Shorewood

Published 8:06 pm Tuesday, January 25, 2011

MUKILTEO — Spanning the past four seasons, the Kamiak boys swimming and diving team has been virtually a sure bet to win any dual meet.

The Knights have lost just once in head-to-head match-ups the past four years. They maintained that sterling record with a 119-67 dual-meet win over las

t year’s class 4A state champion Shorewood on Tuesday afternoon at the Kamiak High School pool.

Shorewood, which has since dropped down to class 3A, took second place in 2009 to a Kamiak team that won the 4A state title with strong short distance events and relays.

Tuesday, Kamiak (8-0 league, 16-0 overall) jumped out to a strong start with a stunning come-from-behind win in the 200-yard medley relay — the meet’s first event — and rode its superior depth to a comfortable win over the defending champion Thunderbirds (7-1, 14-1).

Kamiak senior Kris Bratvold overtook Shorewood’s Colin Bell on the final leg of the 200 medley relay as the Knights upset the higher-seeded Thunderbirds in the opening event with a state-qualifying time of 1 minute, 39.49 seconds.

“Our medley relay squeaking by in the beginning was a nice surprise,” Kamiak head coach Chris Erickson said. “Shorewood had a season-best time also.”

“We put our best foot forward, go as fast as we can possibly go. They’ve just got a lot more depth than us, but they’re starting to get the fast times, too,” Shorewood head coach Scott Kelley said. “That 200 medley relay, that’s the first time we’ve been beaten all year.”

The pressure quickly mounted on the Thunderbirds as Kamiak notched 1-2-3 finishes in the 200 freestyle and 50 freestyle events.

“We put (Shorewood) in the last of the season (schedule) so we could save up our energy,” said Kamiak senior Chris Choi, who was part of the winning medley relay and won the 200 freestyle (1:50.62). “For the seniors, it was our last meet at Kamiak. It was kind of emotional, all the seniors gave it all they got.”

The past two 4A state title winners won’t get to test their skills against each other at the state tournament this year, so the season’s final dual meet provided the stage.

Shorewood senior Thor Stenfjord won the 200 IM (1:58.55) and the 100 freestyle (48.35) while fellow senior Mackey Hopen won the 100 butterfly (52.95) and the 100 breaststroke (59.48). Eddie Young won the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 260.40 points, but the Thunderbirds couldn’t keep pace with Kamiak’s long list of swimmers.

“We were hoping to be up there with them, but it’s a sign that we’ve got some work to do,” Kelley said. “The guys treat this as kind of their biggest rivalry. It’s definitely the meet the guys get up for and they look forward to it. It’s a little disappointing to come out behind.”

Kamiak sophomore John Stupey set a school record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.26 seconds. Stupey owned the record set earlier this year at 55.40.

With the dual-meet portion of the schedule over, Kamiak turns its focus to the district meet in two weeks’ time at Marysville-Pilchuck.

With enough depth to challenge for the district title, the question of state depth looms for the Knights.

“We have a pretty good chance at winning state,” Choi said. “We’re not going to win any events — maybe the relays — but individually we’ll get in the top-eight in all the events.”

Erickson, Kamiak’s head coach for the past 12 years, has seen numerous squads pass through the ranks, including the 2009 state champions, but said he has never had as much depth as this season.

“We’ve never had this much,” Erickson said. “There’s a lot of kids that swim around here. Obviously if they start swimming at a young age and participate at any level … it makes a difference when you get to high school.

“Two years ago we had those sprinters, just five of them. They did it (won state) with speed and relays. This group is different. We’ve got a good mix.”

At Kamiak Pool

200 medley relay—Kamiak (John Stupey, Liam Sosinsky, Chris Choi, Kris Bratvold) 1:39.49*; 200 freestyle—Chris Choi (K) 1:50.62; 200 individual medley—Thor Stenfjord (S) 1:58.55**; 50 freestyle—Kris Bratvold (K) 22.62*; Diving—Eddie Young (S) 260.40; 100 butterfly—Mackey Hopen (S) 52.95**; 100 freestyle—Thor Stenfjord (S) 48.35**; 500 freestyle—Tyler Cheung (K) 5:11.92; 200 freestyle relay—Shorewood (Thor Stenfjord, Colin Bell, Andrew Garrison, Mackey Hopen) 1:30.62**; 100 backstroke—John Stupey (K) 55.26*; 100 breaststroke—Mackey Hopen (S) 59.48**; 400 freestyle relay—Kamiak (John Stupey, Chris Choi, Tyler Cheung, Trent Roberts) 3:23.38*. Records—Shorewood 7-1 league, 14-1 overall. Kamiak 8-0, 17-0.

*Class 4A state meet qualifying time.

**Class 3A state meet qualifying time.