SHORELINE
The Shorecrest boys swim and dive team moved a step closer to earning a share of its first league title in years with a 106-79 win over Jackson Jan. 19 at Shoreline Pool.
“Getting a piece of Wesco would be big for our school,” said junior Tyler Hayden, who won two events and swam on a winning relay. “It would be unbelievable.”
Shorecrest (5-1 Western Conference South Division, 6-3 overall) wrapped up its league season with a meet against Edmonds-Woodway and Mountlake Terrace after Enterprise deadlines. The Scots were favored to beat both those teams.
Coming into the meet, a logjam existed at the top of the league. Jackson, Shorewood, Kamiak and Shorecrest each had one loss. Jackson beat Shorewood, Kamiak beat Jackson, Shorecrest beat Kamiak and Shorewood beat Shorecrest. So the Shorecrest-Jackson meet would break the logjam, as would the Kamiak-Shorewood meet on Jan. 25, held after Enterprise deadlines.
Shorecrest broke the meet open after holding a slight edge after the conclusion of the diving competition. Shorecrest senior Jake Mason took first in diving with score of 204.65, 24 points better than his previous personal record.
When Shorecrest junior Franklin Chien won the 100 butterfly in 59.93 seconds, the Scots turned up the heat on the Timberwolves and coasted to the victory.
Chien told coach Bill Murray before the race that there was no way he would lose the race.
“Franklin’s fly was the turning point,” Murray said. “It set the tone that we’re going to take this meet over.”
“I’m going to work hard these next two weeks,” Chien said. “I still believe there’s a lot more for me to do before I hit districts.”
Jackson fell to 4-2 in the league and 6-2 overall.
“It’s good for us,” Jackson head coach Drew Whorley said. “This is kind of a humbling experience. We still have districts to look forward to.”
Hayden won the 100 freestyle in a state qualifying time of 49.81 seconds and took first in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:03.96.
“I’m not worried about times right now,” Hayden said. “Just want to focus on little things — good technique and having fun.”
Jackson’s Robbie Burns won the 500 freestyle in 4:59.53. He said Jackson assistants timed his 50-yard splits, which were mostly under 30 seconds. Burns also won the 200 freestyle in 1:52.39.
Burns had hoped to go up against Hayden in the 500 freestyle but the Scots’ standout swam other events instead.
Jackson’s Andrew Ramos won the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.74.
Shorecrest sophomore Michael Zylstra won the 50 freestyle (24.25) and 100 backstroke (1:02.42). Zylstra swam the backstroke after contributing to the winning 200 freestyle relay (1:35.81).
Shorecrest also won the 400 freestyle relay (3:42.87).
“They looked good in a lot of places where we couldn’t be,” Whorley said.
Whorley shifted the Timberwolves’ lineup around a bit, because one of its top swimmers, Jimmy Rogers, had to leave early to compete in the Washington Open club meet. Rogers swam on the winning 200 medley relay and competed in the 200 individual medley and 50 freestyle.
“We had to swim a different lineup,” Whorley said. “Things didn’t fall our way.”
Murray said the Scots have come a long way in the last four years to become contenders.
“Things have just gone our way,” he said. “We’ve had the turnout and work ethic to put this team together.”
The confidence built in league meets this season should carry over to the district meet, where the Scots hope to earn a title, Murray said.
“We’re extremely happy,” he said. “This is what we need.”
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