By Grant Clark
You can chalk up this year’s Class 2A state girls swim meet to valuable experience for Aberdeen High School.
The Bobcats failed to advance any of their three relay teams to the championship finals at the state meet at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way on November 14, but unlike a large majority of teams competing, the Bobcats have the luxury of welcoming everyone back next season.
“Usually I will have a senior (on a relay team),” Aberdeen coach Jan Simons said. “This year I don’t, so that’s pretty exciting knowing our entire team is returning next year.”
The 400 freestyle relay team of freshman Katelynn Lewis, sophomore Karli Heikkila and juniors Emily May and Amelia Davison finished second in the consolation finals with a time of 4:00.91 – good for 10th overall.
“It’s comfortable knowing you have more than just one year to get used to swimming together as a team. We now have something we can build on,” Heikkila said. “Last year we were ranked higher, but had faster times this year. We got faster, but everyone else got faster too. Now we know we just have to up our game next year.”
Heikkila, May and Waltee were joined by junior Mari Rabung to finish 11th overall in the 200 medley relay (2:01.24). Both teams made it to Saturday’s consolation, while the 200 free relay team of Davison, Waltee, Katelynn Lewis and Katelyn Dawson advanced to the state preliminaries (152.84).
“I’ve swam here before, but the state meet has a different kind of energy,” said Lewis, a freshman. “Everyone is a lot more serious. It’s super exciting to be here though.”
Liberty of Renton claimed the overall team title with 310 total points. Squalicum (283), Anacortes (186), Archbishop Murphy (175) and Sehme (155) rounded out the top five.
Aberdeen finished 18th with 30 points.
“Hopefully our training program is set up so they have the fastest times at the state meet. Usually they are really up for state and that happens,” Simons said. “I think this was a fast 2A meet. I have to go back to the drawing board as a coach and really evaluate what we’ve done and come up with some things to make us faster. We probably have to do a little more higher-quality sprint a little earlier in the season.”
It was the second consecutive state championship for Liberty in the 2A ranks. The school finished third two years ago in the 3A classification.
“Our girls are extremely hard workers. They were at the top of the pack at districts and so everybody was nipping at their heels. That was fun and exciting,” Simons said. “Then to come up to the state meet, although that is their goal to be here and you want to swim your best and we’ve had our best times at the meet, but we hope to be in that finals event. That’s what we hope to shoot for.”
Pullman junior Taylor McCoy was named Swimmer of the Meet for the second time in her high school career. The winner of the 200 IM and 100 backstroke also earned the distinction as a freshman and now has six state titles on her resume. She was one of several 2A swimmers who have raised the bar in the classification over the last few years.
“It’s exciting for all levels of swimming, 2A, 3A, 4A, to have those fast times,” Simon said. “It’s really exciting to have those swimmers in our districts for us to compete against. It helps everybody raise up.”
With one more year under their belt, the Bobcats relay team members anticipate their times to improve next season as well.
“Everyone just pushes each other and holds each other accountable,” Waltee said. “You can rely on them. As they get faster, you can get faster too.”
On the individual side, Rabung advanced to the consolation finals in the 100 breaststroke, where she finished 14th with a time of 1:15.22, while May finished 16th overall in the 100 backstroke (1:06.84).
In addition, Aberdeen also advanced May (100 butterfly), Waltee (200 IM), Heikkila (100 freestyle) and Davison (500 freestyle) to the preliminary round.
“It’s been a wonderful group to coach,” Simons said. “I like them to be good people first, then good students, then strive to do their very best at swimming. These girls do that. They are a pleasure to work with. They treat each other nice. They are all team players, very supportive of each other. It really is a team environment here.”
