Spartans, Hornets advance to state swim, dive meet

The Curtis High School pool was packed last weekend as West Central District III swim teams gathered to compete against the timer — and each other — to see who gets to swim on to state, and who was left high and dry.

By Kevin Hanson • October 31, 2017 10:45 am
Olivia Castro starts the second half of her lap during the district 200 yard medley event. Her relay team, also consisting of Mikaela Miele, Marin Wilson and Emma Huynh, placed sixth in the event and will compete at state. Photo by Ray Still
Olivia Castro starts the second half of her lap during the district 200 yard medley event. Her relay team, also consisting of Mikaela Miele, Marin Wilson and Emma Huynh, placed sixth in the event and will compete at state. Photo by Ray Still

The Curtis High School pool was packed last weekend as West Central District III swim teams gathered to compete against the timer — and each other — to see who gets to swim on to state, and who was left high and dry.

Sumner and Enumclaw high schools, both 4A schools in the South Puget Sound League and North Puget Sound League, respectively, were often shoulder to shoulder while cheering on their teammates in the pool.

Next up for all the qualifiers is the state meet, scheduled for Nov. 10-11 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

The Sumner Spartans were the big fish during the district weekend, taking second overall among 23 teams, with only Curtis ahead of them.

One of the biggest wins of the night came from senior Mikaela Miele, who was the 500 freestyle event district champion for the fourth year in a row, beating not only the competition but her own preliminary swim time by close to 11 seconds.

Miele also placed second in the 200 free, and will be competing at state in both events.

Sophomore Marin Wilson placed fourth in the 200 and 500 free, and is also moving onto state in those events.

Sophomore Emma Huynh placed second in the 50 free and third in the 100 free, and is moving to state.

Sophomore Olivia Castro is also going to state, having placed seventh and sixth in the 200 free and 100 backstroke respectively.

Many of these swimmers are also moving on to state in the relay races.

The 200 free relay team, made up of Castro, Huynh, Miele and Haven Carroll, placed first at district. The 200 medley relay, composed of Castro, Wilson, Miele and Huynh, placed sixth. The 400 free relay team, made up of WIlsim, Carroll and Payton and Miranda Wojciechowicz, also placed sixth.

Sumner freshman Sam Crabtree placed 16th in the district diving event, earning points for the team overall. Freshmen Taylor Holmes and Gracie Sather and junior Carroll placed 19th, 20th and 21st respectively.

ENUMCLAW

The Hornets placed 12th among 23 schools at the Curtis pool, with six athletes in the water. In the end, two earned state berths.

Abbie Jo Carlson was crowned district champion in diving and will next compete at state in two weeks.

Elise Pratt finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke and also is headed to Federal Way.

Among the other highlights singled out by coach Becky Pratt:

• the medley relay of Margaret Petellin, Pratt, Jessica Lee and Ryley Pilato dropped two seconds from a previous best time and finished 11th;

• the 400 freestyle relay of Jaiden Matteson-McGee, Pilato, Petellin and Pratt improved four seconds and finished ninth; and

• Petellin swam a personal best time in the 100 backstroke, finishing in 11th place.