State girls swim & dive: Local swimmers, divers, teams to watch

Here’s what you need to know about the high school girls swim and dive state championships, including a few of the many local swimmers, divers and teams to watch:

When: Friday and Saturday

Where: King County Aquatic Center (Federal Way)

Friday’s schedule: 4A prelims, 9:45 a.m.; 2A/1A prelims, 2 p.m.; 3A prelims, 6:30 p.m.

Saturday’s schedule: 4A finals, 9:15 a.m.; 2A/1A finals, 2:10 p.m.; 3A finals, 7 p.m.

LOCAL SWIMMERS TO WATCH

Mia Chang, jr., Jackson. Chang is the top seed in the Class 4A 100-yard backstroke with an All-American automatic qualifying time of 54.56 seconds, which is more than two seconds faster than the rest of the field. She also is the top seed in the 200 individual medley by 0.93 seconds. Chang, the third-ranked overall junior recruit in the state according to CollegeSwimming.com, placed third in the 100 backstroke each of the past two seasons.

Jetlynn Hau, sr., Stanwood. Hau, the defending 3A state champion in the 100 breaststroke, enters as the No. 2 seed in the same event, sitting 0.45 seconds behind Bainbridge freshman Emma Solseng. Hau also is the No. 12 seed in the 200 individual medley. In addition to last year’s state title, she has a pair of third-place state medals in the 100 breaststroke and two seventh-place medals in the 200 IM.

Grace Lindberg, fr., Shorewood. Lindberg is seeded No. 2 in the 3A 200 freestyle, sitting nearly two seconds behind Lakeside senior Nathalie Valdman. Lindberg also is the No. 4 seed in the 100 butterfly.

Elli Straume, sr., Kamiak. Straume is seeded fourth in the 4A 200 freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle. The Arizona State University signee has reached the state podium in all 12 state races she’s swam and owns four top-three individual state medals, including second-place finishes in the 200 freestyle each of the past two years.

Cheyenne Kreide, sr., Lake Stevens. Kreide is the No. 3 seed in the 4A 100 breaststroke. She also qualified for state in the 200 individual medley.

Kendall Bensen, soph., Snohomish. Bensen is seeded fourth in the 3A 100 backstroke and seventh in the 200 individual medley.

Anna Kowalchyk, soph., Snohomish. Kowalchyk is seeded fourth in the 3A 100 breaststroke and 10th in the 200 freestyle.

Madelynn Butler, soph., Lake Stevens. Butler is seeded sixth in the 4A 100 freestyle and eighth in the 50 freestyle.

LOCAL DIVERS TO WATCH

Kayli Kersavage, jr., Snohomish. Kersavage, the two-time defending 3A state champion, is seeded No. 2 in her classification after posting 443.70 points in her district competition. Earlier this season, she posted a score of 472.1 points, which is within 1.2 points of the 3A state-meet record. Mercer Island freshman Brooke Andrews is the top seed at 458.05 points.

Ryzele Lagdaan, sr., Glacier Peak. Lagdaan is seeded third in the 4A field with a score of 392.2 points. She placed in the top 12 at state each of the past three seasons.

Connie Chen, jr., Kamiak. Chen is seeded fifth in the 4A field with a score of 367.05 points.

LOCAL TEAMS TO WATCH

Jackson. The Timberwolves rolled to an undefeated regular season in dual-meet competition and cruised to their second consecutive 4A Northwest District title. Jackson has two relay teams seeded third in 4A and another seeded ninth. Chang is one of seven individual state qualifiers for the Timberwolves and one of three to qualify in multiple events. Jackson earned a top-five state finish four of the past five years.

Shorecrest. The Scots are coming off their second 3A Northwest District title in three years. All three of Shorecrest’s relay teams are seeded in the top 10 of 3A, led by its sixth-seeded 200 medley relay squad. The Scots have seven individual state qualifiers, including four in multiple events.

Snohomish. The Panthers took second place in the 3A Northwest District meet. All three of Snohomish’s relay teams are seeded in the top 10 of 3A, led by its eighth-seeded 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay squads. The Panthers have six individual state qualifiers, including four in multiple events. Kersavage is one of three Snohomish state qualifiers with a top-four seed.