The Meadowdale boys swim team is off to a blazing start.
The Mavericks already have a state cut in the 200-yard medley relay. It wasn’t until halfway through the regular season last year that Meadowdale produced a state time in the event.
“We have pretty good relays forming up for the district and state meet,” said Michael Keane, who along with Sam Atkinson, Darren Howell and Allen Wong make up the relay.
Keane also is off to a solid start, having broken the school record in the 200 individual medley and producing a personal best time in the 100 breaststroke. Keane advanced to the consolation finals in both events at last season’s Class 3A state championships.
“My times at the start of the season were pretty good,” Keane said. “I’m glad I got (the school record) out of the way. … Just overall it’s been a solid beginning of the season. I want to build off the momentum.”
In the 100 breaststroke, Keane dropped about a second from his previous best time. Usually his time drops have been about half a second.
“I didn’t know what to expect in that race,” Keane said. “I started swimming to see how close I could get to my best time. I didn’t think I dropped a second.”
The Mavericks’ 200 freestyle relay team is close to making the state time standard, coach Kati Girard said.
The same four individuals who comprise the 200 medley relay team also swim the 200 freestyle relay.
Atkinson also advanced to the state consolation finals of the 100 backstroke.
“Sam did real well the other day,” Girard said. “I’m expecting that he’ll make the cut for the backstroke earlier than he did last year.”
Edmonds-Woodway also brings back a state competitor in junior Ali Abadi. The Warrior standout advanced to the finals of the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly. He finished eighth in both events at the Class 4A meet.
Abadi has a state cut in the 100 butterfly and his time is faster than what he clocked in at last year’s state championships. He broke the school record, which he set at state.
“He’ll be working on his state time for the 200 IM,” Edmonds-Woodway coach Kate Trettevik said of Abadi, who was scheduled to compete this weekend at the junior nationals. He was tapering a little bit in anticipation of the meet.
“He should have a little more practice, more yards in the next couple of weeks to keep his endurance up,” Trettevik said.
The Warriors also should have a strong 200 freestyle relay team with the return of three of the four individuals who advanced last year to state. Back are Ryan Warren, Mike Stepenski and Abadi.
“We have a lot of sprinters returning,” Trettevik said.
Turnout is up at Edmonds-Woodway, Meadowdale and Mountlake Terrace.
“We have a lot of strong swimmers returning and we have a lot of new people,” Trettevik said.
Edmonds-Woodway’s roster is up to 31, while the Hawks have 16, double last year’s numbers. Meadowdale has 28 individuals.
The Hawks are an extremely young team with no seniors. The top prospects include Franco Yip (breaststroke, butterfly) and Evan Nebel (sprint freestyle). Ten of the Hawks are first-year swimmers with little or no experience. Lynnwood returns a district qualifier in Kyle Eddy.
As has been the case in recent years, the two 4A schools (Edmonds-Woodway and Mountlake Terrace) and the two 3A schools (Lynnwood and Meadowdale) operate under a co-op program with Trettevik also coaching the Hawks and Girard handling the Royals.
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