LYNNWOOD
Three of the top swimmers in the area tuned up for the upcoming postseason with strong performances at the annual Edmonds District swimming championships.
Junior Danielle Holstein won a pair of events and swam on two winning relay squads to help lead Edmonds-Woodway to the team championship Oct. 25 at Lynnwood Pool.
Holstein finished first in the 500-yard freestyle with a state cut of 5 minutes 16.94 seconds and also won the 200 freestyle in 2:02.59. She also was on the Warriors’ winning 200 medley (Holstein, Sarina Lim, MacKenzie O’Brien and Ashley Jay) and 400 relay (Holstein, Melissa Pond, Brianne Losacco, Jay) teams.
“I didn’t go my best times but I’m still pretty happy,” Holstein said of her two freestyle events. “Our team’s doing well as a whole.”
The Warriors easily outscored Meadowdale 392 to 270 to take home the team trophy. Mountlake Terrace was third with 209 points and Lynnwood was fourth with 167.
“The season has gone pretty well,” Holstein said. “I actually got some all-time records for myself, so I’m really proud. As a team we’ve done much better than in all the other seasons. It’s really great that we can improved a lot.”
Teammate Jay took first place in the 50 freestyle in 26.75. Jay generally swims in the distance events. She already has state cuts in the 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. She’ll likely focus on the latter two events in the postseason.
Jay’s times in her events weren’t as fast as she was hoping for, but considering she’s been sick recently, Jay is fine with them.
“I haven’t been doing as well as I hoped, but it’s OK,” Jay said.
Her best time in the 500 freestyle is faster than last year’s time. She’s only competed in the 200 freestyle once this season and that time was slower.
“I know I can go faster,” Jay said. “State should be good.”
Holstein and Jay both advanced to state in the 200 and 500 freestyles. Holstein finished 10th and Jay was 13th, respectively, in the 500 freestyle. Jay also took 14th in the 200 freestyle.
The Warriors’ top prospect among the relays is the 400 freestyle.
“We haven’t gotten a state time but we’re pretty close,” Holstein said.
Meadowdale’s Kina Ackerman also produced a state cut with her first place finish in the 200 individual medley. Ackerman finished in 2:18.88, which is just about where she ended up at last year’s Class 3A state meet.
“I’m really glad I got state because I’ve been working hard for it,” Ackerman said.
Ackerman previously had swum a state cut but because there was only one timer present, the time did not qualify.
“My strongest point I think was the backstroke and the breaststroke,” Ackerman said. “I did my turns really well. There were some fast girls in my heat and they really helped me keep up.”
Ackerman finished 11th in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle at the 2007 state championships. She is close to qualifying for state in the 500 freestyle.
“I was off, I think, by a second or two in the 500,” Ackerman said. “So I’m going to try at districts. I feel pretty confident for districts.”
Other individual winners included Mountlake Terrace’s Shadee Semana in the 100 butterfly, Edmonds-Woodway’s Brianne Losacco in the 100 freestyle, Mountlake Terrace’s Kari Sjolin in the 100 backstroke and Edmonds-Woodway’s Sarina Lim in the 100 breaststroke. The Warriors also captured the 200 freestyle relay.
As for the state meet, both Ackerman and Holstein agree that they aren’t necessarily looking for a specific placement in the standings. It’s all about their times.
“At state I really want best times,” Ackerman said. “That’s all I really want.”
Added Holstein, “I’m not really sure where I’ll place. I’ll just try my best.”
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