Jackson, Kamiak swim to a standoff

MUKILTEO — It all came down to the final race of the afternoon.

Trailing by two points, the Jackson boys swim team needed a first- and at least a third-place finish in the 400-yard freestyle relay race in order to secure a tie with league rival Kamiak in last week’s regular season dual meet finale.

Anything less and the Knights would edge out the Timberwolves in the meet and also take second place in the league.

Following an extended break before the final race, the stage was set for what turned out to be a wild finish that left both teams less than ecstatic.

Jackson ended up taking first and third place and after all the results had been doubled checked, Kamiak coach Chris Erickson announced that the Wolfpack and the Knights ended up tied 85-85 in the Western Conference 4A South Division dual meet Jan. 29 at Kamiak High School.

The tie was a little bit of a disappointment for the Timberwolves, who came in hoping to knock off Kamiak and finish in sole possession of second place in the league.

“It’s better than a loss,” said Jackson senior Josiah Pleasant, who finished second in the 100 backstroke. Pleasant also swam a leg on the winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Jackson coach Drew Whorley also was looking for a victory but didn’t seem too disappointed with the tie. The charged atmosphere throughout the meet, especially before the final event, brought out the best in his team.

“That’s what this whole thing is about,” he said. “You feel fortunate to be apart of something like this where you can bring the kids and they get to experience the best of what high school swimming has to offer.

“A win is always better. This is the next best thing.”

The Timberwolves were led by Peter Mullins, who posted a state qualifying time of 1:02.18 in the 100 breaststroke and swam on both winning relay teams.

Mullins wasn’t the only Wolfpack swimmer to have saved his best for the last regular season dual meet.

Brother Andrew took first in the 200 individual medley and while no other Timberwolves won any individual events, they scored enough points for the tie.

“Everyone really rose up to the occasion,” Whorley said. “Johnny Quackenbush swam a lifetime best in the 500 freestyle. He had a great 200 freestyle. Josiah had a good 100 butterfly and a good 100 back. Our 400 and 200 medley relays were awesome … our depth, it’s really starting to rise up.”

Up next for Jackson is the Western Conference 4A South Division sectional meet Feb. 12 and 14 at Kamiak High School.

The Timberwolves will be at a disadvantage in that they do not have any divers, while teams such as Kamiak and Shorewood do.

The Wolfpack’s goals, however, have not changed.

“We should be able to win it,” Pleasant said. “If we swim our best we will win.”

Whorley acknowledges a victory will be an uphill battle because of diving but he isn’t ruling anything out.

“The diving thing is unfortunate and that will probably be the difference between us, Shorewood and Kamiak,” he said. “The championship format is a totally different thing. Everybody gets to swim four events and those points are weighted a little bit more up top and that’s where we’re good, up top … I’m definitely excited about what we’re capable of doing.

“I believe in these guys. We’ve got a great group of seniors. They’ve been extremely enthusiastic. It’s been a great season.”

While the Mullins brothers, Pleasant and Quackenbush have excelled from the start of the season, a group of younger, less experienced swimmers have left quite an impression on Whorley and their teammates.

“For the guys that came and worked hard it’s been an unbelievable, awesome year,” Pleasant said. “A lot of guys improved so much over the season — top guys and new guys.”

Many of the newcomers joined Pleasant in offseason workouts before the start of the season.

“All these new guys, they’ve never swam before,” Pleasant said. “They bought in it. Me, Johnny and the Mullins, every time we’re there working our butts off and they do it with us. They’ve improved so much, dropping like 10 seconds in a 50.”