FEDERAL WAY — Tony Dennis was hoping to get a little taste of what the big show was all about at last weekend’s Class 4A state boys swimming and diving championships at the King County Aquatic Center.

A year ago, the Edmonds-Woodway junior advanced to the consolation finals of the 500-yard freestyle and won the event to finish ninth overall.

Dennis’ goal heading into the Feb. 20-21 competition was simple — to make it to the 500 freestyle finals.

He got more than he bargained for.

Dennis stuck to his pre-race game plan and overtook two competitors late in the race to finish a surprising third overall with an All-America consideration time of 4:42.68.

“I wanted to swim my own race, more than swim with other people,” Dennis said. “I felt really good while I was swimming it. I was really tired at the end. When I got out, I couldn’t believe that I went that fast and got third. It’s awesome.”

Ballard’s Kerry Tannhauser took first place (4:30.75) and Decatur’s Erich Matulie finished second (4:35.60).

In his other race, Dennis won the consolation finals of the 200 freestyle with a time 1:47.78 to place ninth overall. He finished 14th in the event last year.

“I had a really good race there too,” Dennis said. “I just wish I would have made it into the finals, but it’s no big deal that I didn’t make it in because I wasn’t ranked that high. I had really good swims today. It was fun.”

Dennis was seeded fourth in the 500 freestyle and ninth in the 200 freestyle coming into the state meet.

“We couldn’t have asked for more,” said Edmonds-Woodway coach Matt Delaney. “He had by far the most phenomenal meet of his career today. More than anything he showed that he’s growing up and really learning what it means to swim fast — be relaxed but swim fast at the same time.

“He stayed within himself and didn’t get too wrapped up in what was going on in the rest of the heats.”

Dennis was in fifth place for most of the 500 freestyle but passed two competitors in the last 200 yards. He led from start to finish in the 200 freestyle consolation final and finished almost a second ahead of Kentwood’s Kyle Corcoran.

While Dennis felt comfortable during the finals, he felt a little out of synch during the preliminaries a day earlier.

“Once I got in today, I felt really good,” Dennis said. “Yesterday, I didn’t feel very good. I still had OK times and everything … but today I felt great the whole time.”

Delaney noted that even though this was Dennis’ third year at the state meet, it takes most swimmers some time to get reacclimated to the facility and being at the state meet.

“The prelims (are) all about getting used to the environment and understanding what it is,” Delaney said. “You kind of have to grow back into and understand what the meet is.”

Dennis was accompanied by one teammate — Sean Maden, who competed in the 100 butterfly. Competing at a state meet was a valuable experience for the Edmonds-Woodway freshman.

“We’re really happy to have him come here and see it, so he has a place he knows he wants to get back to next year,” Delaney said.