By BOB MORTENSON
Herald Writer
FEDERAL WAY – The Meadowdale Mavericks and Jackson Timberwolves used the prelims of the Class 3A state swimming and diving championships to demonstrate that they are two young teams on the rise.
And, while Bainbridge busied itself with wresting the title away from defending champion Bellevue in tonight’s finals, the two Western Conference 3A schools will look to move up the food chain at the King County Aquatic Center.
Jackson will pin its hopes on Maito Hoshino and Stephanie Aasland, each of whom qualified for championship finals.
Hoshino, a junior, swam a 1:00.86 in the 100-yard backstroke to take the No. 6 seed in the finals. Aasland, also a junior, qualified at No. 7 in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:19.36.
“They’re both in good positions,” said Jackson coach Drew Whorley.
Hoshino also qualified 10th in the 200 individual medley in 2:17.15. Aasland took No. 12 seed in the 200 freestyle.
Meadowdale was unable to crack the championship finals, but will send a host of swimmers into the consolation finals.
And, more importantly, the Mavericks should pile up points after qualifying with the No. 10 seed in both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.
The Maverick unit of Brittany Kunze, Lauren Johnson, Jennifer Clobes, and Sarah Earling posted an impressive 1:57.42 in the medley event, a season best.
In the 400 freestyle relay, Shelby Hill, Meredith Storey, Earling and Johnson swam a time of 3:48.04.
Storey qualified ninth in the 500 free, just ahead of Earling at 10th. Hill is seeded 11th in the 100 butterfly. Johnson boosted the Mavericks’ hopes of a top-15 finish after qualifying for the consolation finals in the 50 and 100 freestyle sprints.
The diving prelims will be held this morining and Meadowdale sophomore Brittany Zdenek, fourth at state a year ago, will look to qualify for tonight’s finals.
Jackson overcame a couple of tough starts in the 200 freestyle relay and the foursome of freshman Robin Marolla, and Alex Hardy, along with Aasland and Hoshino, qualified at No. 11 in 1:45.87.
Whorley says the group hopes to move up.
“That 200 free was real good. We had two slow starts and to be where we’re at is great,” Whorley said. “Starts are so critical, but I think we can remedy that Saturday night.”
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