LYNNWOOD — Jackson’s hard work paid off with its first dual meet victory of the new year.
Junior Robbie Burns and sophomore Jimmy Rogers each won a pair of events to lead the Timberwolves to a 98-72 win over Edmonds-Woodway in a Western Conference South Division clash Tuesday at Lynnwood Pool.
The Wolfpack had dropped its last three dual meets to the top three teams in the division — Shorewood, Kamiak and Shorecrest.
“It went well for us today,” Jackson coach Drew Whorley said. “I’m happy with how we swam pretty much top to bottom.”
The Timberwolves started off the new year with a lackluster performance against the Scots, but Whorley saw better efforts in the last two dual meets, even though the Wolfpack lost to Shorewood and Kamiak.
“We kind of challenged the guys a little bit,” Whorley said. “They’ve really responded well the last three meets. We’ve just performed beyond my expectations.”
Beyond the times in the pool, Whorley is glad to see the guys pulling for their teammates.
“As far as team unity and enthusiasm and support for one another, all the things that make a team, we’re doing things really well,” he said. “Practice is great. In a lot of ways this group is clicking on all cylinders right now.”
Burns took first place in the 200- and 500-yard freestyles and posted a season’s best time of 1:52.18 in the former event.
“His 200 free was outstanding,” Whorley said. “We’re still kind of playing around how he’s going to swim (the 500 freestyle) and what way he wants to approach it. Robbie is doing a lot of hard work in practice. In the places where we need him to be faster, especially on the relays and 200 freestyle, he’s making large improvements.”
While Burns has good times in the 500, Whorley expects them to continue to drop.
“We’re going to get a lot better as we get to districts,” Whorley predicted.
“The 200 was a step in the right direction,” Burns said. “The 500 wasn’t quite what I wanted. I wanted to get a (personal record).”
Rogers finished first in the 200 individual medley and then just out-touched Edmonds-Woodway’s Nate Stoll at the wall for a victory in the 100 backstroke. His time of 58.70 was a personal best.
“I saw we were neck and neck and I just had to go all out,” Rogers said of the 100 backstroke. “I’m improving every meet pretty much. I didn’t drop time in the 200 IM. It was pretty close. In the backstroke, I’ve been constantly dropping time.”
Added Whorley, “The 100 backstroke is a really big win for Jimmy. Jimmy is so talented. Being aggressive in his races makes all the difference in the back half. He can always finish well. We’re just working on developing confidence and getting him out there a little more aggressive.”
Jackson’s 200 freestyle relay team of Perry Chang, Grant Livingston, Burns and Elijah Pleasant and the 400 freestyle team of Burns, Rogers, Pleasant and Andrew Ramos won their respective races.
The 400 freestyle relay likely is Jackson’s top relay prospect for the upcoming district meet.
“We’re just better the further we go,” Whorley said. “The 400 is the one relay I think we have the best shot at doing well at the end of the season.”
Jackson also had solid swims from Perry Chang, Chris Knorr and their younger brothers Colin Chang and Matt Knorr.
Cameron Wu and Jordan Lance also have been coming on strong.
“Performances like that from the new, less experienced guys kind of challenges everyone and wakes everyone up as to what they’re capable of,” Whorley said. “It gets guys to rise to the top.”
Rogers expects Jackson to continue building on its success.
“This (victory) definitely helped,” Rogers said. “We’re a really young team, so I think we’re going to keep improving.”
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