The Interlake swim team started off with a bang at the Class 2A boys swim and dive championships, but came up just short to Sehome, finishing second and coming up short by just eight points.
“It is definitely deserved,” said Interlake coach Christina Hunsberger. “They’ve worked really hard to get not only where they are individually, but where the team has come. All the pieces kind of fell in piece this weekend.”
The Saints all-senior relay team of Eldon Cummings, Alex Rockwell, Victor Hsiao and Yuji Nelson got Interlake off on the right foot, winning the day’s first event, the 200 medley relay, in a meet-record time of 1:37.35.
“Those four boys, they’ve been swimming together since freshman year,” Hunsberger said. “They realized it was their last time together and they really brought it. They swam their hearts out, as corny as that sounds.”
The Saints had a shot to tie Sehome in the meet’s final event, the 400 free relay, but came up just short, finishing second in 3:16.39. Sehome took first in 3:16.22. It was the Bellingham school’s third-straight Class 2A team title.
The Saints also had success individually. Rockwell won the 50 free in 22.13 and took third in the 100 breast, while Cummings won the 100 free in a meet-record 48.33 and took third in the 100 back. Hsiao earned a second place finish in the 100 back in 53.65 and finished third in the 100 fly in 52.22.
The second place finish overall was the highest for the team since back-to-back 4A titles in the 1987 and ’88 seasons. The program has come a long way in the last four years, Hunsberger said, bulging to 60 swimmers this year. Just 12 swimmers were on the team when Hunsberger took over two seasons ago.
“I really give credit to the seniors,” Hunsberger said. “They worked really hard to build the program to where it is.
“I know they had it in them to give Sehome a run for their money,” she added. “I’m really proud to be their coach.”
Newport earns fourth place finish in 4A
The Newport boys swim team finished fourth at the Class 4A swim and dive state championship at the King County Aquatic Center. The Knights scored 138 team points and finished behind only Richland (158), Beamer (170.5) and state champion Kamiak (240.5).
Ben Allen finished third in the 200 free for the Knights, while teammate Sebastian Bury took third in the 50 free. Dehlan Gwo finished sixth in the 100 fly in 54.03 and fourth in the 100 back in 54.00.
The Knights 200 free relay team of Bury, Allen, Nicholas Weiss and Nathan Burwell finished third, just barely behind Eastlake (1:29.8) and winner Central Kitsap (1:29.55).
The Knights 400 free relay team of Weiss, Bury, Gwo and Allen finished fifth.
Stokes earns only area Class 3A top-5 finish
Bellevue senior Geoffrey Stokes finished fourth in the 100 breast at the Class 3A state swim and dive championship meet Saturday at the King County Aquatic Center. Stokes finished in 1:01.04 and was the only area top-5 finisher in 3A.
Bellevue finished 17th as a team with 33 points.
Sammamish junior Matt McKaig finished seventh in the 50 free in 22.39. He also finished 12th in the 100 free. Sammamish finished 26th with 17 team points.
Top-5 finishes
Class 2A
1st – Interlake, 200 medley relay team (Eldon Cummings, Alex Rockwell, Victor Hsiao, Yuji Nelson)
1st – Alex Rockwell, Interlake, 50 free
1st – Eldon Cummings, Interlake, 100 free
2nd – Victor Hsiao, Interlake, 100 back
2nd – Interlake, 400 free relay team (Yuji Nelson, Conrad Sheridan, Victor Hsiao, Eldon Cummings)
3rd – Victor Hsiao, Interlake, 100 fly
3rd – Alex Rockwell, Interlake, 100 breast
3rd – Eldon Cummings, Interlake, 100 back
3rd – Interlake, 200 free relay team (Yuji Nelson, Conrad Sheridan, Alex Rockwell, Albert Barroga)
4th – Conrad Sheridan, Interlake, 500 free
5th – Jason Xu, Interlake, 500 free
Class 3A
4th – Geoffrey Stokes, Bellevue, 100 breast
Class 4A
3rd – Ben Allen, Newport, 200 free
3rd – Sebastian Bury, Newport, 50 free
3rd – Newport, 200 free relay team (Sebastian Bury, Ben Allen, Nicholas Weiss, Nathan Burwell)
4th – Dehlan Gwo, Newport, 100 back
5th – Newport, 400 free relay team (Nicholas Weiss, Sebastian Bury, Dehlan Gwo, Ben Allen)
