After dazzling performances in each of the past two state swim meets, Jackson phenom Jonathan Cook figures to once again be a must-see attraction this weekend in Federal Way.
The four-time individual state champion and Stanford University signee enters the boys state swim and dive championships Friday and Saturday at King County Aquatic Center as the top seed in 4A for both the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breastroke.
“He will be fun to watch at state,” Kamiak coach Chris Erickson said after a dual meet against Jackson on Jan. 25. “Everybody will stop and pause — no matter what team you’re cheering for — and (watch) Jon Cook.”
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Cook, a senior, is the reigning back-to-back 4A state champion in both the 200 IM and 100 breastroke and was named 4A Swimmer of the Meet each of the past two years.
Last season, he broke 4A state-meet records in both events.
Cook owns the Jackson school record in every event except diving, according to Timberwolves coach Drew Whorley.
“It’s kind of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to coach a kid that does something like that,” Whorley said.
Kamiak bringing large contingent to state
Kamiak will be well-represented at state with eight individual qualifiers and three highly ranked relay teams.
The Knights, who cruised to the 4A Northwest District team title this past Saturday, are the top seed in both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays. Kamiak is seeded fifth in the 200 freestyle relay.
Maxwell Fang, Alex Kirby and freshman twins Vlad and Slava Gilszmer each qualified for two individual events. Vlad is seeded No. 2 in the 500 freestyle and No. 4 in the 200 freestyle. Kamiak senior Walter Limm is seeded No. 3 in the 100 breaststroke.
Other locals to watch
Glacier Peak sophomore Matthew King is the 4A top seed in both the 50 and 100 freestyle. His automatic All-American time of 20.58 seconds in the 50 freestyle is at least 0.85 seconds faster than any other swimmer in the field.
Glacier Peak is seeded No. 2 in the 4A 200 freestyle relay and Jackson is seeded No. 3. Jackson is seeded No. 2 in the 400 freestyle relay.
Lake Stevens sophomore Alejandro Flores is seeded No. 2 in the 4A 100 breaststroke, behind top-seeded Cook.
Shorewood has four of the top eight seeds in the 3A diving competition, led by No. 2 seed Isaac Poole. Snohomish also qualified four divers for state.
Archbishop Murphy senior Ryan Price is seeded third in the 2A 200 IM and sixth in the 500 freestyle.
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