Aasland leads Jackson to Northwest District championship

By AARON SWANEY

Herald Writer

ANACORTES – Jackson’s Stephanie Aasland said her Saturday night performance in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle races didn’t quite meet her expectations.

“I wasn’t as fast as I’d hoped to be,” said Aasland. “But I’ll be primed for state.”

For all competitors going to next weekend’s state championships, consider that a threat.

Because even if her races weren’t quite up to her expectations, they still garned her first-place finishes in both races to help lead the Timberwolves to a first-place finish in the Class 3A/2A Northwest District meet.

“(Stephanie’s) leadership is really what made the difference,” said Jackson coach Drew Whorley. “We had a lot to prove coming in and it was just an incredible team victory.”

Along with Aasland, Jackson will be sending Maito Hoshino, who won the 200 individual medley and finished second in the 100 backstroke. And all three Jackson relay teams, including the 200 freestyle relay team, which with the help of Aasland pulled off an upset over favored Anacortes.

Finishing third was Meadowdale, which will send a total of five swimmers, two relay teams and one diver to state.

Meadowdale’s Lauren Johnson, Shelby Hill, Sarah Earling, Meredith Storey and Brittany Kunze all placed in the top three of two events each to lead the Mavericks.

But Meadowdale’s lone winner was diver Brittany Zdenek, who amassed a total of 334.65 poits.

Lake Stevens will be sending its third-place finishing 200 freestyle relay team to state. Also going to state wil;l be Everett’s Kim Hunter in the 100 breaststroke and divers Erin Graham and Amy Eskelson from Everett and Stanwood, respectively.

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