Schools play numbers game in the pool
December 1, 2008
By Ryan Piersol
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Austin Briggs, of Liberty, wins the 100-yard freestyle in a district-qualifying time of 52.81 seconds last year in a meet against Issaquah. File
Issaquah
The Issaquah swimming and diving team will have to deal with the departure of a successful senior class, but the Eagles still have some talent set to lead the team this winter.
The top returning swimmer is Jack Taylor, a state qualifier last season in the 500 freestyle, who also helped the Issaquah 200 medley relay team to a 10th-place finish at state. Another returning state qualifier is Kyle Stratiner, who was 14th at state last season in the one-meter diving competition.
Stratiner is one of four team captains, joined by Nathan Balkman, Riley Goodman and Miles Perkins.Issaquah finished 14th at the state meet last season with 58 points.
Liberty
The Patriots had a record number of boys turn out for the swim and dive team.
“We have 36 on the roster so far,” said Kris Daughters, who is entering her 11th year as coach of the swim team. “Last year, we had 22.”
This year’s team features 18 seniors, whose leadership and enthusiasm is fantastic, Daughters said.
The top returning swimmers are Austin Briggs, who placed at districts in the 100 fly last year and nearly made state; Chris Kaulia, who swims the back and sprint free; Alex Bell, who swims sprint free and mid-distance free; and Matt Johnson, who swims sprint free.
Top newcomers include Logan Briggs, who already has a couple of state standards coming in; Luke Duschl, who swims backstroke and is on a club team; and Kevin Hays, who has a club swimming background and competes in the breaststroke.
The Patriots have one returning diver, Andrew Fitzsimmons, who competed at districts last year.
Liberty opens its season Dec. 11 in a dual meet against Eastlake High School at Redmond Pool.
Skyline
The Skyline boys swim and dive team brings back two all-KingCo Class 3A honorable mention athletes from the 2007-2008 season with hopes for a competitive run to 4A state swimming this year.
Junior Alex Palumbo qualified for districts in four events last year, while junior John Gerlach qualified for three.
Both are strong swimmers, said head coach Susan Simpkins, and along with senior captains Rogers Feng and Nick Kosenkranius, will lead the 35-man squad.
“Our guys get along and they care about each other and they want to see each other succeed,” Simpkins said. “They are really a great group of guys.”
Gerlach and Palumbo both pull two-a-days, swimming for club and school teams, but Simpkins said it should make the team more of a contender than last year, especially for the class switch.
During the off-season, Simpkins garnered Skyline alum and former state champion Peter Wicklund as the team’s assistant coach. Wicklund also set records at the University of Washington. While at the UW, he swam the 50-yard freestyle in 20.30 seconds.
“It’s nice to have a man on the deck with them,” Simpkins said.
The 11 freshmen turnouts in 2008-2009 bring a needed depth for a team focused on a better representation at state this year.
Among the freshman, the versatile David Jett and Alex Marber come on board with high expectations from Simpkins and teammates.
“I really think David Jett is going to be our little star this year,” she said.
With the girls team coming off its best state finish ever, the boys have a lot to live up to this winter. Simpkins, though, said the team is motivated and ready to see what the league is made of.
By Jim Feehan, Ryan Piersol and Christopher Huber
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