The Edmonds-Woodway boys swim team should again be right in the thick of the Western Conference 4A South Division race.
The Warriors return a pair of state participants and have added a promising newcomer.
“The team has been shaping up great,” Edmonds-Woodway coach Matt Delaney said.
Junior Tony Dennis advanced to the 200- and 500-yard freestyle Class 4A state consolation finals last year and already has surpassed state qualification time standards in both events this season. Dennis is now expected to set his sights on the 100 butterfly.
Senior Eric Christie is the other Warriors to advance to state. He competed in the 100 butterfly.
The Warriors 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams also qualified for state but two members of the teams are gone.
Delaney, however, isn’t too worried with the arrival of freshman Sean Maden, who has impressed Delaney. The combination of Dennis, Christie, Maden and Bryant Shiu gives Delaney a solid core from which to rebuild the Warriors’ relay squads.
But a good part of the rest of the team — nine freshmen — is untested. Edmonds-Woodway’s numbers (24) have remained steady unlike the declines for Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace. (See related note below).
“We’re kind of par from last year,” Delaney said. “But we’re looking to grab a couple more dual meets if possible.”
NOTE
LYNNWOOD/TERRACE MERGE TEAMS: Due to declining numbers and financial considerations, the Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace boys swim teams are now part of a cooperative program with their two district counterparts.
The Royals only had two swimmers come out for the team, while the Hawks had 10. The Lynnwood and Meadowdale teams are now combined, as is Mountlake Terrace and Edmonds-Woodway.
Edmonds District athletic director Terri McMahan said it wasn’t fair for opponents to have to compete against teams with such low numbers.
“We need to have in my estimation in the neighborhood of 20 or more (swimmers),” she said.
The tentative plan next season is to continue with the cooperative program unless there is a significant increase in numbers at Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace, according to McMahan.
Lynnwood’s numbers have been steadily declining in recent years and the departure of longtime Mountlake Terrace coach John Traxler two years ago and having off-campus coaches may have affected the Hawks’ numbers.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
