Prep boys swim and dive: Athletes and teams to watch

The high school boys swim and dive season is in full gear as teams returned to action this week after winter break.

Here’s a look at some of the area’s top returning swimmers, divers and teams this winter:

SWIMMERS AND DIVERS TO WATCH

Issac Bingay, sr., Cascade

Bingay finished in 12th place at the Class 3A state championships last season, posting an 11-dive score of 249.1.

Camden Blevins-Mohr, soph., Lake Stevens

Blevins-Mohr placed 16th in the 100-yard butterfly at 4A state championships last season, swimming the event in 54.99 seconds. He was also a member of the Vikings’ 4A District 1 champion 400 freestyle relay team.

Ethan Chen-Parks, jr., Jackson

Chen-Parks took 12th place in the 100 butterfly and 13th place in the 50 freestyle at the 4A state championships last winter, finishing the 100 butterfly in 53.34 seconds and the 50 freestyle in 22.28 seconds. He was also a member of the Timberwolves’ 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams, which each won 4A District 1 titles and delivered top-four finishes at state.

Garrett Chesley, sr., Lake Stevens

Chesley is the area’s only returning swimmer to earn two individual state medals last winter, placing sixth in the 100 backstroke and eighth in the 100 butterfly at the 4A state championships. He swam the 100 backstroke in 53.50 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 53.54 seconds. Chesley also broke the 4A District 1 record in the 100 backstroke with a time of 51.96 seconds and was a member of Lake Stevens’ district champion 400 freestyle relay team.

Connor Colloton, soph., Snohomish

Colloton finished 13th in the 500 freestyle and 20th in the 200 freestyle at the 3A state championships last season, finishing the 500 freestyle in 4 minutes, 57.77 seconds and 200 freestyle in 1:51.98. He’s the defending 3A District 1 champion in the 500 freestyle and was a member of the Panthers’ district champion 200 freestyle relay team.

Cade Farmer, soph., Kamiak

Farmer placed 14th in diving at the 4A state championships last season, posting an 11-dive score of 217.25 points.

Brendan Gaffney, jr., Glacier Peak

Gaffney placed 10th in the 200 freestyle at the 4A state championships last winter, finishing the race 1:49.62.

Ethan Georgiev, jr., Jackson

Georgiev took 11th in the 100 freestyle at the 4A state championships last season, swimming the race in 49.33 seconds. He was also a member of the Timberwolves’ 200 freestyle, 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams, which all delivered top-four finishes at state.

Noah Henderson, sr., Cascade

Henderson placed ninth in the 100 breaststroke and 13th in the 200 individual medley at the 3A state championships last winter, finishing the 100 breaststroke in 1:00.10 and 200 IM in 2:00.16. He’s the defending 3A District 1 champion in both events.

Nate Huh-Orrantia, sr., Marysville Getchell

Huh-Orrantia finished fifth in diving at the 3A state championships last season, posting an 11-dive score of 273.65. He’s the defending 3A District 1 diving champion.

Sean Neils, sr., Shorecrest

Nelis took 11th in the 100 freestyle and 15th in the 100 backstroke at the 3A state championships last winter, finishing the 100 freestyle in 49.14 seconds and the 100 backstroke in 56.07 seconds. He’s the defending 3A District 1 champion in the 100 freestyle and was also a member of the Scots’ district champion 400 freestyle relay team.

Mate Pallos, sr., Edmonds-Woodway

Pallos placed 14th in both the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke at the 3A state championships last season, finishing the 100 freestyle in 49.51 seconds and the 100 backstroke in 55.14 seconds. He’s the defending 3A District 1 champion in the 100 backstroke.

Colton Stoecker, soph., Shorecrest

Stoecker finished 11th in the 500 freestyle and 19th in the 200 freestyle at the 3A state championships last winter, swimming the 500 freestyle in 4:54.94 and the 200 freestyle 1:51.72.

Kaiu Taylor, jr., Glacier Peak

Taylor placed eighth to earn a medal in the 50 freestyle and added a 13th-place finish in the 100 backstroke at the 4A state championships last season, finishing the 50 freestyle in 22.20 seconds and the 100 backstroke in 54.68 seconds.

Evan Wold, soph., Archbishop Murphy

Wold finished seventh to earn a medal in the 100 butterfly and added a 13th-place finish in the 100 breaststroke at the 2A state championships last winter, swimming the 100 butterfly in 56.62 seconds and the 100 breaststroke in 1:04.01. He was also a member of the Wildcats’ 200 freestyle and 200 freestyle relay teams, which placed fifth and seventh at state, respectively.

TEAMS TO WATCH

Glacier Peak

The Grizzlies sent seven individuals and two relay teams to state and placed 20th as a team last season. Glacier Peak returns four of its individual qualifiers and half of its two state relay teams. Juniors Kaiu Taylor and Brendan Gaffney, who teamed up on GP’s 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams, both earned a top-10 finish in individual state events. Taylor, a multi-event qualifier, medaled in the 50 freestyle. Junior Connor Christman and senior Shouei Tong round out the returning state qualifiers for the Grizzlies.

Jackson

The Timberwolves are coming off a program-best third-place finish at the 4A state championships and were the runners-up at the 4A District 1 championships. Jackson delivered top-four finishes in all three relay events and four top-six medals in individual events at state. The Timberwolves graduated all of their individual state medalists, but return key pieces of their relay teams in juniors Ethan Georgiev and Ethan Chen-Parks. Georgiev and Chen-Parks were members of Jackson’s district champion 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays teams and qualified for state in individual events. Georgiev was also a member of the 400 freestyle relay team. Despite placing second at districts last season, Jackson took first in seven of 12 events, including setting a district record in the 200 freestyle relay.

Lake Stevens

The Vikings are the defending 4A District 1 and Wesco North champions. Lake Stevens, which qualified four individuals for state, returns two of its individual state qualifiers, including 2022 multi-event state medalist Garrett Chesley. The Vikings also welcome back a solid chunk of their three state-bound relay squads, with three back from both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams and one from the 200 freestyle relay squad. Returning relay team members include Chesley, Camden Blevins-Mohr, Connor Weldon and Laird Marlatt. The 400 freestyle relay team is the defending district champion. The Vikings’ district title win is believed to be the program’s first, and it ended a 15-year run of either Jackson or Kamiak winning the 4A District 1 meet. Lake Stevens placed 11th at the state meet last season.

Shorecrest

The Scots return five individual state qualifiers and half of all three state qualifying relay teams from a squad that won the 3A District 1 title. Shorecrest placed 18th at the 3A state championships, which was the top mark from Wesco, and its district championship was its second straight. The Scots return a pair of multi-event state qualifiers in senior Sean Neils and sophomore Colton Stoecker. Neils was also a member of Shorecrest’s 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams. State relay team members Kason Kirkpatrick, Tristan Serrano and Porter Lewis are also back this season. The Scots are the defending district champions in the 400 freestyle relay. Shorecrest also returns state qualifiers Jiaho Zeng, Liam Muilenburg and Ian Franklin — all seniors.

Shorewood

The Stormrays are coming off a runner-up finish at the 3A District 1 championships and 26th-place finish at the 3A state championships. Shorewood returns a trio of individual state qualifiers in juniors Andrew Mitchell, Ben Allen and Larson Bucholz. Shorewood also welcomes back the bulk of its three state qualifying relay teams, with three swimmers returning from the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay squads and all four from the 400 freestyle relay team. Returning relay members include Mitchell, Allen, Bucholz, Nathan Hagemeier, Abel Mitiku and Dean Foral. The Stormrays are the defending district champions in the 200 medley relay.