Swimming capsules
(Swimmers listed with their results at state meet last year, where applicable).
WesCo 4A North
Favorite — Snohomish.
Contenders — Oak Harbor, Marysville-Pilchuck.
Ten to watch — Erica Chandler, Sr., Snohomish, won 200-yard freestyle at state; Kyla Meuer, Jr., Oak Harbor, 3rd in 50 free; Katie Neely, Jr., Snohomish, 200 free and 100 back; Jessie Rima, Jr., Marysville-Pilchuck, 12th in 100 back; Rachel MacNeil, Jr., Cascade, 8th in 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly; Emily Enders, Jr., Snohomish, diving; Taisha Atkin, Jr., Snohomish, diving; Missy McIntyre, Fr., Oak Harbor, 200 IM, 100 breast; Brandy Rupert, Sr., Oak Harbor, 200 and 500 free; Erica Girard, Sr., Marysville-Pilchuck, 200 free.
Outlook — Snohomish must rebuild after four straight WesCo 4A and district titles and three consecutive state championships, but Panthers have depth and talent to go undefeated again. Chandler is one of state's premier swimmers. Oak Harbor, with new coach Carla Edge, has several state-caliber swimmers, and Marysville-Pilchuck has depth. New teams from Class 3A will struggle as traditional 4A powers rule the pool.
— José Miguel Romero
WesCo 4A South
Favorite — Kamiak.
Contenders — Jackson, Meadowdale, Shorewood, Shorecrest.
Ten to watch — Stephanie Aasland, Sr., Jackson, 10th in 200 free, 7th in 500 free (3A); Sarah Earling, Sr., Meadowdale, 13th in 200 free, 9th in 500 free (3A); Maito Hoshino, Sr., Jackson, 10th in 200 IM, 7th in 100 back (3A); Brittany Zdenek, Jr., Meadowdale, 6th in diving (3A); Shelby Hill, Sr., Meadowdale, 11th in 100 fly, 10th in 100 (3A); Sarah Spillman, So., Edmonds-Woodway, 8th in 200 free, 7th in 500 free; Monica Bernhard, Jr., Shorewood, 14th in diving; Shala VanGerpen, Jr., Kamiak, 9th in 100 fly; Ashley Best, So., Kamiak 6th in 100 breast; Jill Spencer, Jr., Kamiak 7th in 100 breast.
Outlook — Kamiak has depth, plus three swimmers who competed at state last year, but several teams have talent to challenge Knights. Shorewood and Shorecrest have improved. Meadowdale and Jackson vied for WesCo 3A title last year in a race that came down to their dual meet.
— José Miguel Romero
KingCo 4A
Favorites — Roosevelt, Inglemoor.
Contenders — Woodinville, Garfield.
Ten to watch — Jamie Tannhauser, Sr., Juanita, 1st in 500 free, 2nd in 200 free; Jill Kripps, Jr., Roosevelt, 1st in 50 free, 3rd in 100 fly; Rachel Walker, Jr., Garfield, 2nd in 500 free, 5th in 200 free; Emily Schmied, Sr., Woodinville, 4th in 200 free, 7th in 100 fly; Lindsay Draper, Sr., Woodinville, 5th in diving; Alyson Carlyon, So., Juanita, 7th in diving; Whitney Warman, Sr., Lake Washington, 9th in 100 free, 10th in 200 free; Bergen Beck, So., Roosevelt, 11th in 500 free; Katie Baumgartner, Inglemoor, Sr. freestyle; Kim Kripps, Fr., Roosevelt, freestyle, multi-events.
Outlook — Tannhauser is one of state's top college prospects and defending state champion in 500 free. J. Kripps is one of the fastest sprinters and defending champ in 50. Seattle schools have won past two league dual-meet titles. Garfield won in 1999 and Roosevelt is defending league champ with J. Kripps, Beck and Katie Sarff. Inglemoor is boosted by strong class of 14 freshmen, including Carole Baumgartner, Alissa Wiley and Ashley McNeil.
— Danny O'Neil
KingCo 3A
Favorites — Mercer Island, Bellevue.
Contender — Newport.
Ten to watch — Lola Woodworth, Sr., Newport, 1st in breaststroke, 6th in 200 IM; Blythe Murray, Jr., Bellevue, 4th in 100 fly, 7th in 200 free; Lauren Leong, Jr., Bellevue, 2nd in 50 freestyle, 5th in 100 back; Annika Giesbrecht, Jr., Mercer Island, 1st in diving; Alissa Hollowell, Jr., Liberty, 3rd in 100 back, 3rd in 100 fly; Jen Antisdale, Sr., Skyline, 3rd in 50 free, 6th in 100 fly; Kate Wheeler, Jr., Interlake, 3rd in 500 free, 5th in 200 free; Erika Norris, Sr., Interlake, 4th in 200 IM, 5th in 100 fly; Sarah Davis, Jr., Issaquah, 4th in 100 breast, 5th in 200 IM; Michelle Lam, Mercer Island, Fr., multi-event.
Outlook — State's most competitive conference. Five of 12 event winners at 3A state meet last year were from KingCo. Nine returning swimmers placed at state in two individual events. Rendy Opdycke and Lisa Tilson of Mercer Island and Lindsay Lambert of Sammamish reached state finals last year, too. Last season Newport won its first dual-meet KingCo title since 1985. Mercer Island and Bellevue are boosted by tremendous freshmen classes. Lam could qualify for state in all eight individual events and Giesbrecht is two-time state champ in diving.
— Danny O'Neil
SPSL North
Favorite — Kentridge.
Contenders — Tahoma, Kentlake, Kentwood.
Ten to watch — Emily Kukors, Jr., Auburn, 2nd in 200 IM, 4th in 100 fly; Megan Woodworth, Jr., Kent-Meridian, 4th in 500 free, 9th in 200 free; Kelly Corcoran, So., Kentwood, 10th in 50 free; Lauren Molnar, So., Kentridge; 12th in 500 free; Danielle Magnusson, So., Tahoma, 10th in diving; Robin Mikesh, Sr. Auburn Riverside, diving; Judit Farkas, Sr., Tahoma, all-around; Sarah Stockwell, Fr., Kentlake, breaststroke, IM; Sara White-Delehoy, Fr., Kentlake, all-around; Carolyn Bohm, So., Kentwood, sprints.
Outlook — Kentridge has won 38 consecutive SPSL North dual meets and puts that streak on the line today against Tahoma, the only other unbeaten left in the division. Kentlake and Kentwood are close behind and could wind up scoring more at the big meets. Kukors scores big for Auburn.
— Sandy Ringer
SPSL South
Favorite — Rogers.
Contenders — Puyallup, Decatur, Curtis.
Ten to watch — Sandy Hong, Jr., Decatur, 3rd in 500 free, 7th in 200 free; Caitlin Friedhoff, Jr., Jefferson, 2nd in both 50 free and 100 free; Christina Hussong, Sr., Decatur, 3rd in diving; Chelsea Freeman, So., Rogers, 5th in 100 fly, 6th in 200 IM; Corie Beth Freeman, So., Rogers, 6th in 100 back, 11th in 200 IM; Lisa Fry, Jr., Rogers, 3rd in 100 back, 10th in 200 IM; Libby Cope, Sr., Curtis, 8th in diving; Jessica Lee, Sr., Jefferson, 11th in 100 back; Kristin Okazaki, So., Jefferson, 14th in 200 IM, 15th in 100 fly; Becky Matz, Sr., Puyallup, 10th in 500 free.
Outlook — Rogers is expected to rule South again and should take a strong contingent to state. Puyallup pushed Rams the hardest last season and likely will be next in line once more. Hong and Hussong lead a solid Decatur squad.
— Sandy Ringer
Seamount King Division
Favorite — Kennedy.
Contender — Highline.
Ten to watch — Maki Moore, Highline, Jr., two-time champ in 500 free, 2nd in 200 free in 1999 and 2000; Katie Willis, Kennedy, Sr., 3rd in 200 IM and 100 breast; Andrea Stoll, Highline, Sr., 50 free, 100 free; Brooke Johnson, Highline, Sr., 50 free, 15th in 100 free; Kylie Schluter, Highline, Jr., 13th in 100 breast; Jenny Besagno, Kennedy, Jr., 11th in diving; Eve Zwickert, Kennedy, Sr., 5th in 500 free; Alicia Maffeo, Kennedy, Sr., freestyle; Jill Farley, Kennedy, Fr., nationally-ranked youth diver; Kristen Germain, Evergreen, Sr., 16th in diving, 50 free and 100 free.
Outlook — Kennedy has superior depth and quality, as does Highline, last year's fifth-place finisher at 3A state meet. Kennedy retains a lot of firepower from last year's 12th-place state team and has good, young talent. Highline lost a bit of depth to graduation.
— Matt Massey
Seamount Pierce Division
Favorites — Mount Rainier, Peninsula.
Contender — Lakes.
Ten to watch — Kristie Rice, Mount Rainier, Jr., 7th in 200 IM, 10th in 100 breast; Aubrey Merrell, Mount Rainier, Sr., 7th in 100 fly; Jennifer Hale, Lakes, Jr., 3rd in 100 free, 4th in 200 free; Hali Saucier, Peninsula, Jr., 2nd in diving (4A); Kendra Crowe, Peninsula, Jr., 50 free, 100 free, 200 IM; Christina Ausburne, Peninsula, Fr., 50 free, 100 free, 100 breast; Katie White, Peninsula, So., 100 back, 200 free; Jamie Scott, Lakes, Fr., 50 free, 100 free; Shauna Mayo, Lakes, Sr., 100 free, 100 fly; Kendra Gracie, Clover Park, Jr., 100 breast.
Outlook — Mount Rainier is always a league, district and state power and under Joe Fain, new coach and former Ram standout swimmer, things aren't likely change. Rams, seventh at state in 2000, retain top swimmers Rice and Merrell to go with quality depth. Peninsula's Brice is state-championship caliber swimmer and tops a deep squad. Seahawks were eighth at 4A state meet last fall, but do not return any state-qualifying individuals and will rely heavily on youth.
— Matt Massey