Marysville Pilchuck’s Willis ready for rest after big day

FEDERAL WAY — Marysville Pilchuck’s Colin Willis isn’t quite sure when he’ll be in a pool next.

The Tomahawks senior is looking forward to a break.

After finishing sixth in the 100 butterfly (53.31 seconds) and fifth in the 100 backstroke (53.78) in the final 3A state tournament of his career, Willis is ready to stay dry for a while.

“It feels pretty good. I’ll miss it, but I’m glad it’s over with,” Willis said. “It’s a lot of work. A lot of time in the pool.”

In his final race, Willis broke the Marysville Pilchuck school record in the backstroke by “almost a second,” despite believing he didn’t swim his best race.

“I’m kind of upset with the 100 backstroke,” Willis said. “I messed up a couple turns. I was too close to the wall.”

Willis and diver Taner Husby, who finished third with 256.10 points, were the lone Tomahawk representatives at the 3A state meet at King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. The two combined for 30 points, which tied Marysville Pilchuck with Prairie for 20th overall.

The Marysville swimmer and diver carpooled down with a pair of Marysville Getchell divers. The Chargers (three points) finished 33rd.

Shorecrest was the top Wesco team at the state tournament finishing seventh with 102.5 team points. The Scots were led by junior diver Aaron Moss, who scored 421.85 points. Senior Carter Osborne finished sixth in the 200 freestyle (1:44.94) and, along with Grant Heisey, Russel Groves and Axel Wickstrom, was on the Scots’ 400 freestyle relay team that finished seventh (3:19.92) in the final event of the meet.

Shorewood (59 team points) and Oak Harbor (41) finished 15th and 18th overall respectively.

At King County Aquatics Center

Team scores: 1. Lakeside (Seattle) 274, 7. Shorecrest 102.5, 15. Shorewood 59, 18. Oak Harbor 41, 20. Marysville Pilchuck 30, 25. Stanwood 18, 32. Meadowdale 4.5, 33. Marysville Getchell 1.

Local results only

200 medley relay—7. Oak Harbor (Cedric Cabigting, Josh Jepsen, Caley Powers, Kevin Levy) 1:41.46; 200 freestyle—6. Carter Osborne (Shorecrest) 1:44.94; Diving—2. Aaron Moss (Shc) 421.85, 13. Taner Husby (Marysville Pilchuck) 256.10, 14. Dominique Gray (Marysville Getchell) 249.65; 100 butterfly—6. Colin Willis (MP) 53.31; 500 freestyle—4. Grant Heisey (Shc) 4:38.97; 200 freestyle relay—8. Shorewood (Torrey Morales, Galen Kintner, Jonah Hoverson, Andrew Garrison) 1:29.58; 100 backstroke—6. Willis 53.78; 100 breaststroke—8. Jepsen 1:00.62; 400 freestyle relay—7. Shorecrest (Heisey, Russel Groves, Axel Wickstrom, Osborne) 3:19.92.

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