LYNNWOOD — Edmonds-Woodway’s Peter Doolittle is looking to build up last year’s appearance at the Class 4A state swimming championship.
After qualifying for the 500-yard freestyle and advancing to the consolation finals where he placed eighth (16th overall), the junior standout wants to move up in the standings.
Two weeks into the season, Doolittle seems to be well on his way. He already has district qualifying times in the 100, 200 and 500 freestyles and the 100 backstroke.
“I want to do a little better than I did last year at state,” Doolittle said. “It’s been motivating me. … I’m definitely trying to make top eight at state in the 500.”
It’s far too early for Doolittle to decide what other individual event he will swim, but he is considering the 100 backstroke, even though he has only competed in it once so far this season.
Doolittle posted victories in the 100 and 500 freestyle during a nonconference meet against Shorecrest Dec. 8 at Lynnwood Pool. The Scots, who improved to 4-0, dominated the meet and coasted to a 112-58.
“It was good,” Doolittle said of his swims. “I felt sore coming in and swam a lot better than I thought I was going to. It was a good surprise.”
The Edmonds-Woodway junior undergoes physical therapy before practices due to a shoulder injury. Doolittle suffered what he called an overuse condition, partially due to also swimming for the Cascade Swim Club.
“That program has a lot of distance in it,” Edmonds-Woodway coach Kate Trettevik said. “So he has a really good endurance base.”
Doolittle’s time of 5 minutes, 9.04 seconds in tbe 500 freestyle is less than nine seconds off the state time standard. Doolittle clocked in with a 52.20 in the 100 freestyle and is looking to break the school record in that event, which is 51.18.
“It’s really close,” said Trettevik, who added that the time was even more impressive considering Doolittle’s shoulder issues.
Doolittle could have some company at state this year.
Sophomore Max Takacs has district times in the 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
Freshman Alex Nguyenle looks to have a shot at advancing to state in the 100 breaststroke. His time of 1:05.28 is less than two seconds from the state time standard. Nguyenle also has solid times in the 100 freestyle and 200 individual medley. Trettevik also wants to see what he can do in the 500 freestyle.
Junior Ken Waller is another versatile swimmer, who can do the butterfly and backstroke.
The prospects for the relays are good, Trettevik said.
“We’ve been working on the 200 medley and the 400 freestyle because my thinking is the Wildcat (state berths) are usually easier for those events,” she added. “The medley is really strong. The four that have been doing it can do any of the strokes.”
So far the lineup has featured Doolittle (backstroke), Nguyenle (breaststroke), Waller (butterfly) and Takacs (freestyle).
Mountlake Terrace, which operates as a co-op program with Edmonds-Woodway, also has plenty of talent but not the overall numbers. The Warriors have 38 individuals out, while the Hawks have seven.
“They’re a really strong team,” Trettevik said of her Mountlake Terrace swimmers. “It’s just that they are so small.”
Freshman Sam Armentrout had a district cut in the 100 breaststroke and is close in the 100 freestyle. He took first place in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke against Shorecrest. Sophomore Connor Bruce has district times in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, and senior Jonathan Vance has qualified for districts in the 500 freestyle and 200 individual medley.
Despite their overall low numbers, the Hawks have posted seven district qualifying times. The Warriors have 13.
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