By Chris Beatty
Herald Writer
MUKILTEO — Midway through the Western Conference South Sectional Championships, Kamiak coach Chris Erickson made a phone call from the Kamiak pool.
As his Knights were well on their way to claiming the team title with 371 points to second-place finisher Shorewood’s 268.5, Erickson called John Pringle, coach of Wesco North rival Snohomish.
"I called Pringle and told him we missed them and wished they were here," Erickson said, who had 12 individuals and three relay teams swim state meet qualifying times in the competition. "They (Snohomish) would have made this a lot closer, more exciting meet."
Kamiak freshman Rikka Brunner led the Knights with victories in the 100-yard backstroke and 200 individual medley. Brunner also was a member of the winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.
"I’m very confident in how I’m swimming right now," Brunner said. "I hope to finish in the top three in each of my events at state."
Some swimmers, like Edmonds-Woodway’s Sarah Spillman, are looking to improve on their 2000 state performances. Spillman finished eighth in the 200 freestyle and seventh in the 500 freestyle at state last season.
"My shoulders were really bad by the time I swam in the finals," said Spillman, who credits her private swim club coach with teaching her a pain-free stroke. "This was my best time in the 500, so I hope to do really well next week."
Jackson’s Stephanie Aasland finished 10th in the 200 freestyle and seventh in the 500 freestyle at last year’s Class 3A state meet. Aasland was unaware that she was suffering from mononucleosis at the time. After taking the summer off to recuperate, Aasland is back, winning the 200 and 100 freestyle events at Saturday’s meet.
"I’m pretty excited to go back (to state)," Aasland said, who hopes to swim for Cornell University next fall. "It’s really about the atmosphere there. It’s more dignified than most places."
One of the meet’s biggest surprises was Kamiak’s Mallory Thompson. Over the course of the season, Thompson managed to cut eight seconds from her time in the 100 backstroke. She shaved a crucial half-second off of her preliminary time to qualify for state with a time of 1:03.27 in Saturday’s final, but that wasn’t all she shaved.
"I used a dolphin kick in the final turn for the first time, and I also shaved my arms," Thompson said, who also had to shave her legs prematurely in preparation for her last chance at making state. "I could feel the difference in the water. If anything, it made a difference for me mentally.
"Just getting there (to state) was my goal," Thompson said. "I never thought I would make it."
Erickson, however, has bigger plans for Thompson.
"We wanted her to qualify so she could get us some points," Erickson said half-jokingly. "We think she (Thompson) has a good shot at finishing in the top 16 at state and give us some crucial points in the team standings."
Team scores—Kamiak 371; Shorewood 268.5; Jackson 205; Edmonds-Woodway 193.5; Shorecrest 107; Mountlake Terrace 81; Mariner 46.
200 medley relay—Kamiak (Brunner, Van Gerpen, Spencer, Fitzpatrick) 1:54.93, Shorewood (Maryatt, Benson, McCall, Johnstun) 1:56.77*; 200 freestyle—Aasland (J) 1:57.87, Spillman (E-W) 2:00.22*, Laverty (K) 2:00.88*, Moorman (Swd) 2:01.42*; 200 individual medley—Brunner (K) 2:10.92, Best (K) 2:12.54*, Benson (Swd) 2:16.73*; 50 freestyle—Johnstun (Swd) 25.62; Diving—Krouse (K) 335.15 points, Bernhard (Swd) 330.75*, Martens (K) 325.30*, Baker (M) 310.65*; 100 butterfly—Van Gerpen (K) 59.67; 100 freestyle—Aasland (J) 55.03; 500 freestyle—Spillman (E-W) 5:12.98, Van Gerpen (K) 5:17.24*, Moorman (Swd) 5:25.54*; 200 freestyle relay—Kamiak (Fitzpatrick, Laverty, Kim, Best) 1:44.82, Edmonds-Woodway (Swenson, Lauber, Vlasie, Spillman) 1:45.47*, Jackson (Wang, Marolla, Hardy, Aasland) 1:45.65; 100 backstroke—Brunner (K) 1:00.16, Laverty (K) 1:03.12*, Thompson (K) 1:03.27*; 100 breaststroke—Best (K) 1:09.27, Benson (Swd) 1:09.59*, Spencer (K) 1:09.83*, Rogers (J) 1:10.75*; 400 freestyle relay—Kamiak (Brunner, Van Gerpen, Laverty, Best) 3:42.24, Shorewood (Moorman, Maryatt, Benson, Johnstun) **.
*—signifies a state-qualifying time.
**—signifies third team from Wesco to state from sectional meets.
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