Here’s a primer for the high school boys 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
Matthew King, sr., Glacier Peak. The University of Alabama signee is the top seed in the Class 4A 50-yard freestyle by 1.03 seconds and the top seed in the 100 freestyle by 2.02 seconds, with automatic All-American times in both events. His 50 freestyle time (20.02 seconds) is equal to the state meet record, and his 100 freestyle time (44.06) is just 0.33 seconds off the state meet record. King, ranked by CollegeSwimming.com as the top overall senior recruit in the state, won state titles in both events as a sophomore before taking last season off from high school swimming.
Kamiak’s Vlad Gilszmer competes in the 200 individual medley at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo on Jan. 30, 2020. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Vlad Gilszmer, jr., Kamiak. The defending 4A 500 freestyle state champion is the top seed in the event, with an All-American consideration time that’s nearly 10 seconds faster than the rest of the field. Gilszmer also is seeded No. 3 in the 200 freestyle. The four-time individual state medalist completed the rare “Ironman” feat this season by posting a state-qualifying time in all eight individual swimming events.
Justin Limberg, sr., Jackson. Limberg is seeded No. 2 in the 4A 200 individual medley, trailing Mount Vernon senior Luke Pusateri by 0.78 seconds. He also is seeded No. 4 in the 100 breaststroke.
Jensen Elsemore, soph., Jackson. Elsemore is seeded No. 2 in the 4A 200 freestyle, sitting 0.68 seconds behind Hazen senior Ethan Dang. He also is seeded No. 3 in the 100 freestyle.
Alejandro Flores, sr., Lake Stevens. The Auburn University signee is seeded No. 3 with an All-American consideration time in the 4A 100 breaststroke. He also is seeded No. 4 in the 100 butterfly. Flores was the 100 breaststroke state runner-up as a sophomore before taking last season off from high school swimming.
Maxwell Fang, sr., Kamiak. Fang is seeded No. 4 in the 4A 100 freestyle and No. 5 in the 200 freestyle. He owns five individual state medals, including third-place finishes in the 200 freestyle each of the past two seasons.
Kamiak’s Slava Gilszmer competes in the 200 freestyle at Kamiak High School in Mukilteo on Jan. 30, 2020. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Slava Gilszmer, jr., Kamiak. Gilszmer, the reigning 4A state runner-up in the 500 freestyle, is the No. 3 seed in the event. He also is seeded No. 9 in the 200 freestyle.
Zachary Bevans, sr., Lynnwood. Bevans is seeded No. 2 in the 3A 100 butterfly, trailing Bellevue sophomore Brian Lee by 0.64 seconds.
Anton Teplouhov, sr., Edmonds-Woodway. Teplouhov is seeded No. 4 in both the 3A 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.
Cole Nouwens, sr., Shorewood. Nouwens is seeded No. 5 in the 3A 50 freestyle and No. 6 in the 100 breaststroke.
Shorewood’s Issac Poole competes in the 1 meter diving event at Shoreline Pool on Jan. 7, 2020. Poole won the event with a school-record score of 375.8. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
LOCAL DIVERS TO WATCH
Isaac Poole, sr., Shorewood. Coming off back-to-back state runner-up finishes, Poole shattered the 3A Northwest District meet record last Saturday with 586.85 points. He is the top seed in 3A by 68 points.
Andrew Kallio, jr., Marysville Pilchuck. Kallio is seeded third in 3A with 442.55 points. He earned a fourth-place state medal last year.
Eric Davydenko, fr., Marysville Getchell. Davydenko is seeded sixth in 3A with 403.40 points.
Lake Stevens’ Jaden Cardona competes in the 1 meter diving event during the Class 4A Northwest District Swim & Dive Meet at Snohomish Aquatic Center in Snohomish on Feb. 15, 2020. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Jaden Cardona, soph., Lake Stevens. Cardona is seeded third in 4A with 457.70 points.
Benson Boone, sr., Monroe. Boone is seeded sixth in 4A with 428.40 points.
Tyler Cochran, sr., Lake Stevens. Cochran is seeded seventh in 4A with 412.00 points.
LOCAL TEAMS TO WATCH
Kamiak. Led by the trio of Fang and the Gilszmer twins, the perennial powerhouse Knights rolled to their 11th outright district title in the past 13 seasons. Kamiak won the 4A 400 freestyle relay state crown last season and is the top seed in the event this year by more than four seconds. The Knights also are seeded No. 2 in the 200 freestyle relay, just 0.14 seconds behind top-seeded Skyline. Kamiak also qualified its 200 medley relay for state and has eight individual state qualifiers, including four in multiple events. Over the past 12 seasons, the Knights have earned eight top-five state team finishes.
Jackson. The Timberwolves qualified all three of their relay teams for state, with two of them seeded No. 3 in 4A. Jackson has five individual state qualifiers, including four in multiple events. The Timberwolves are seeking their sixth consecutive top-10 state team finish.
Shorecrest. The Scots claimed the 3A Northwest District title and are sending eight individuals to state, including three in multiple events. Shorecrest also qualified all three relay teams for state.
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