The Sumner Spartans have been fighting against the current, having yet to win a swim meet this year.

“Moving up to 4A has been straight-out hard,” said coach Maari Bennett. “We have one club swimmer, and the other teams have several.”

But not everything is about the meet win, and Bennett said the eight freshmen on the team are working hard to replace the nine graduated seniors, and are improving their times at every meet.

While the season is young, several of the Spartans have already qualified for league and district events.

The 200 medley relay team, consisting of Zach Stockdale-Pederson, James Lee, Erick Johns and Chase Davis, are going to district.

Johns also qualified for districts in the 200 individual medley and the 100 breaststroke events.

Davis, Johns, Stockdale-Pederson and Alex Joy are competing in the districts 400 free relay.

Davis is also heading to league in the 100 freestyle and 100 breast with Joy, who has qualified for the 500 free, and Stockdale-Pederson, who is competing in the 100 backstroke.

“Right now we may be second in our meets but the Spartan boys are definitely winners and they know it,” Bennett said.

Sophomore Ethan Talley takes a dive during the Jan. 5 meet against Olympia. The Spartans dropped the contest 120-61. Photo by Ray Still.