By Aaron Coe
Herald Writer
If there’s a little extra light in Mukilteo for a little while, it’s probably the glowing of the Kamiak swim team.
The Knights became the first Western Conference team in five years to beat Snohomish Thursday, when Kamiak set five school records en route to a 1-point victory (93.5-92.5) over the powerhouse Panthers.
Kamiak coach Chris Erickson said his team was proud to show they could compete with the three-time defending state Class 4A champions.
“The girls were obviously very excited to beat such a great opponent,” Erickson said.
The meet was somewhat of a chess match for both coaches as they tried to squeeze out points anywhere they could find them. Erickson moved breaststroker Ashley Best into the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races hoping that Jill Spencer would come through in the 100 breaststroke. She did, and Best wound up winning the 50 freestyle and setting a school record in the 100 free with a time of 55.46 seconds.
Best also swam on the 400 freestyle relay team that smashed the previous school record by five seconds and was the best time in the state this season.
Rikka Brunner swam the 100 backstroke in a school record 1 minute, 0.33 seconds and Shala Van Gerpen eclipsed her own record in the 100 fly in 59.76 seconds. Both swam on the 400 relay team as well as the record-setting 200 individual medley team.
Brunner, Mallory Thompson and Cadie Corbett gave the Knights a big lift with a 1-2-3 finish in the 100 backstroke.
“That was really the turning point,” Erickson said. “And there were some events where we finished fifth instead of sixth to get that one point. And in a 1-point meet, that made the difference.”
Big-time numbers: Friday’s football games displayed one of the best collections of individual performances in recent memory. Edmonds-Woodway’s Kyle Trew ruined the chances of anyone else being name The Herald’s Athlete of the Week when he ran through the Jackson Timberwolves for 305 yards on 25 carries.
On the other side was Jackson’s Craig Chambers, who caught 10 passes for 264 yards, including an 88-yard touchdown reception. With a night like that, the one throwing the ball also put up some eye-popping stats. Junior quarterback Jason Morris completed 13 of 19 passes for 318 yards.
Michael Nelson of Mariner gained 158 yards – on four carries. His Mukilteo School District rival Justin Washington picked up 156 yards and four TDs on 13 rushing attempts for Kamiak.
Mount Vernon’s Brook Caudill rushed for 209 yards. Shorecrest’s Eric Duenas gained 179.
In any other week, those players might have been the Athlete of the Week, but they had some stiff competition on what turned out to be a great night of prep football.
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