Archbishop Murphy eyes state swim title

There has never been a 2A boys state swimming team title that has gone to a high school not named “Sehome.”

This weekend, the Archbishop Murphy team is trying to change that.

After finishing a distant second to Sehome last season the Wildcats are hoping the fifth time is the charm at the 2013 state championship, which starts today at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. The 2A swimming classification began in 2008.

“We’re excited,” Archbishop Murphy head coach Mike McCloskey said. “We know we’re in contention. Sehome didn’t win four state titles by a fluke. They have a great program, great swimmers and their depth is just unreal.”

The aptly named Sehome Mariners will get another boost this year thanks to a new scoring system. Instead of scoring eight swimmers, 16 will get points, which McCloskey said definitely helps Sehome more than the Wildcats.

“On the top end — the top three finishers — we’re better than them,” McCloskey said. “But they’ve got more athletes in (consolation races) and pick up those points. So they’ll have more swimmers at state than we will. It’s our top end versus their depth.”

Archbishop Murphy is working on some depth of its own. The Wildcats doubled their team from last year — going from 12 to 24 swimmers — while not graduating a single senior. And there are a couple of fourth-year swimmers that will be leading Archbishop Murphy in their final high school state tournament.

Alec Barnard, the Wildcats’ lone individual champion last year in the 100-yard butterfly, is back along with fellow senior Hunter Cosgrove. Both swimmers were on a state championship-winning 400 freestyle relay team last year, both will swim collegiately next season and both are excited to end their high school career on top.

“I’m pretty excited,” Barnard said. “I think the most exciting part is we could potentially win. Four years ago I would have never thought that even could be a possibility.”

McCloskey might agree. His second year into the boys program — now in its fifth year — he had a star in Barnard, but not a lot of depth around him.

“Alec Barnard, when he came here freshman year, we called it Gladys Knight and no Pips. There was just nobody to back him up,” McCloskey said. “Over the last couple of years we’ve been able to build a team around him. It’s been fun to see the team mature.”

The Wildcats still finished 13th in their first state tournament in 2009, and followed that up with finishes of sixth, tenth and then the second-place award last year. The improvement has Archbishop Murphy thinking upset.

“Last year was really fun,” said Cosgrove, who swims in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, as well as the freestyle relays. “We got second and we got second by a long shot. And they were solidly ahead. I think we’ve got what it takes, but it’s going to take all that we’ve got.”

Archbishop Murphy has been training hard for this tournament all season. They share the West Coast Aquatics pool in Mill Creek with the Jackson team. The Timberwolves practice in the afternoon, while Archbishop Murphy gets up early to use the pool from 6-7 a.m.

The early morning swimming experience might come in handy at state, where the 2A boys are the first group to swim at 10 a.m.

“Fortunately for us we’re in the first session this year,” McCloskey said. “We’re at 10 o’clock. We’re used to training at six in the morning. For us this is sleeping in.”

Along with Cosgrove and Barnard, Archbishop Murphy has a couple of younger swimmers eager to make their return to the state tournament. Sophomores Stephen Boden (200 individual medley, 500 freestyle and freestyle relays) and Alec’s brother Austin Barnard (500 freestyle, 200 freestyle and freestyle relays) are excited to return to the state tournament after a strong showing — including a win in the final event of last year’s tournament, the 400 freestyle relay — as freshmen.

They think they’ll be much less nervous during their second go at state.

“There was an incredible amount of nerves,” Boden said. “Before prelims I honestly felt like I was going to throw up. But coming in this year, it feels a lot more relieving with a year of experience under my belt.”

Austin, who enjoys swimming on relay teams with his older brother, hopes that he can send the seniors out on top.

“I think our training has really kicked up,” Austin Barnard said. “This last year, after getting second, we noticed what we can do. We’re thinking, ‘If we work harder we could actually win this thing next year.’ I think we have to have the perfect meet. But I’m pretty sure we can do that.”

Said Boden: “It’s going to be hard not having Alec and Hunter here. And all the seniors that aren’t coming back. It’s going to be a fun last hurrah this weekend with them. We’re going to try to carry on what they’ve been doing here and keep the legacy going.”

The Seattle University-bound Alec Barnard, who will swim in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly as well as the freestyle relays, knows it’s going to take a lot of work to unseat the defending champs.

“We’re all going to need to swim our hardest, especially in the relays,” he said.

Cosgrove, who will be swimming at Pacific Lutheran University next year, has mixed feelings about the end of his Wildcats’ career. He’s looking forward to sleeping in, but he’s going to miss his teammates.

“There is a little bit of relief. Once I’m done I am done with my high school career and I get to sleep in every day until 6:30, which will seem like a lot,” said Cosgrove. “But then, it’s a little bittersweet. I’ve been swimming with Austin, Alec and Stephen for about five years now in high school and club. It’s kind of sad going our separate ways but it’s been a really good run.”

McCloskey believes a top-two finish is a “realistic expectation” for Archbishop Murphy. And while everybody, himself included, wants the Wildcat seniors to leave with a championship, McCloskey said success won’t be entirely measured by what trophy Archbishop Murphy takes home.

It will also be measured by the stopwatch.

“The nice thing about swimming, like with track, you always have best times,” McCloskey said. “If you get a best time and you get last place you did great. With our kids if they get best times they’re going to be top three, maybe first place. Our goal is always to get their best times in the last meet and I think they’re in position to do that.”

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Sports

Vancouver Giants goalie Burke Hood makes a play for the puck against the Everett Silvertips, who lost 6-2 to the Giants at Langley Events Centre on Saturday, one day after clinching a WHL playoff spot. (Rob Wilton, Giants/Special to Black Press Media).
Tips Week in Review: Everett first in WHL to clinch playoff berth

The Silvertips defeated Kamloops on Friday to secure spot, but lost to Vancouver on Saturday

The Edmonds-Woodway bench reacts to a foul call during the game against Shorewood on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025 in Shoreline, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep basketball roundup for Monday, Feb. 10

Warriors win battle of division champs.

Vote for The Herald’s Prep Athlete of the Week for Feb. 2-8

The Athlete of the Week nominees for Feb. 2-8. Voting closes at… Continue reading

Lake Stevens’ Kamryn Mason attempts to flip Glacier Peak’s Kyla Brown onto her back during 110-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Vikings girls wrestling conquers 4A District 1 Tournament

Lake Stevens dominated with champions in six weight classes and 18 total state-qualifiers

Perfect week no help to Gonzaga

An unbeaten week against a pair of middle- to lower-tier West Coast… Continue reading

LeBron James (23) and Luka Doncic (77) of the Los Angeles Lakers look on as John Collins (20) of the Utah Jazz drives to the basket during the first quarter at Crypto.com Arena on Monday, Feb. 10, 2025, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Lakers’ LeBron James and Luka Doncic hit the ground running

LeBron James and Luka Doncic represent different generations and… Continue reading

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) smiles as head coach Nick Sirianni holds up the Lombardi trophy after they defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22 in Super Bowl LIX at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP / Getty Images / Tribune News Services)
Eagles overwhelm Chiefs to win the Super Bowl

The Philadelphia Eagles perhaps did not vanquish the Kansas… Continue reading

Coach Derek Lopez (far right) and the Lake Stevens boys' wrestling team celebrates with their championship trophy at the WIAA 4A District 1 Tournament at Jackson High School on Feb. 8, 2025.
Lake Stevens boys capture district wrestling title

The Vikings had 17 state-qualifiers; second-place Arlington led with five weight class winners

Edmonds-Woodway wrestlers react to a pin during the match against Meadowdale on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep boys wrestling roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Edmonds-Woodway boys wins Wesco 3A South wrestling title.

Kamiak’s Kai Burgess has her arm raised in the air after beating Arlington’s Jaymari O’Neal in the 125-pound match at the 4A girls wrestling district tournament on Friday, Feb. 7, 2025 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Rebuilding Kamiak girls wrestling steps forward at District Tournament

Ki Burgess and Eden Cole each won their weight class in Friday’s WIAA District 1 Girls’ 4A Tournament

Prep basketball roundup for Saturday, Feb. 8

Tulalip Heritage boys advance to district title game.

Meadowdale’s Kyairra Roussin takes the ball to the hoop during the game against Archbishop Murphy on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Prep girls basketball roundup for Friday, Feb. 7

Kyairra Roussin’s deep buzzer-beater lifts Meadowdale over Stanwood.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.