MUKILTEO
Without its top swimmer Tyler Hayden and other key swimmers, Shorecrest’s boys swim team fell short against Kamiak 117-69 Dec. 13.
Kamiak improved to 2-0 in the Western Conference South Division and 4-0 overall, while Shorecrest fell to 2-1 in the league and 3-1 overall.
Hayden was at a club swim meet and with several other swimmers out, the Scots, the co-champions in the league last year, lacked the depth to contend with Kamiak.
“That’s fine,” co-captain Franklin Chien said. “We’ll try to do the best we can. This is just the first step.”
The team is also without coach Bill Murray, who is addressing a health concern. Shorewood girls swim coach Susie McDowell has taken over the coaching duties indefinitely while he’s out.
“Hopefully he’ll be back at the end of the year,” Chien said. “He’s not leaving the team.”
“It’s running really smoothly with Susie,” he said.
Chien won the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 58.13 seconds, a margin of victory of slightly more than two seconds over Kamiak’s Anthony Tiburcio.
“I pulled it out,” Chien said. “It came down to who wanted it more.”
Chien was second in the 100 butterfly with a time of 59.85. Tiburcio edged him with a time of 59.78.
Chien found himself in between strokes at the wall.
“I felt the extra stroke was a little bit unnecessary,” Chien said. “I gave it my all. It’s one of those sports where every millisecond matters.”
Both Chien’s swims were personal records this season.
Kamiak’s 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays recorded state qualifying times. All three of its relays have state qualifying times this year.
“To have that done this early gets that weight off you,” Kamiak coach Chris Erickson said.
Shorecrest won the 400 freestyle relay but the times were off its best.
“We’re missing a lot of key people in our relays,” Chien said. “It definitely would have been nice to race them with our full strength.”
Sophomore Kevin McKay won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:11.33 and took second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:07.41. He swam anchor on the Scots’ 400 freestyle relay, which included Max Williamson, Franklin Chien and Quin Murphy, and finished in first with a time of 3:41.78.
“My breaststroke wasn’t as good as it has been, but our 400 relay really did good,” McKay said.
Shorecrest senior Paul Ma finished second in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:06.46, a personal record by two seconds.
“The kids that were here swam well, lots of (personal records),” McDowell said.
The teams have a break from meets until January, when the season resumes. Shorecrest faces Sehome Jan. 2 at Shoreline Pool.
“Hopefully we’ll be motivated and take this three week training break and work hard,” Erickson said.
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