Diving the difference as SK cruises past CK

South Kitsap girls swimming coach Dennis Anderson had a smile as wide as the Olympic Aquatic Center pool Thursday night after his team pulled off a 97-86 Bridge Division victory against Central Kitsap.

“The swimming was even,” Anderson said. “The difference was the divers.”

The Wolves had divers, the Cougars didn’t. That meant 13 free points for the visiting team — enough to put them over the top.

“Our girls consider this a win,” CK coach Patti Matthew said, noting the CK swimmers outscored their SK rivals by six points. “We were thrilled because we had so many best times. The girls are excited and when they’re happy, I’m happy.”

“We knew it would be close,” CK junior Kristi Waterbury said, “so we were aggressive and pushed hard. We may have lost by a few points, but we feel it was one of our best meets.”

The happiest person in the pool was South Kitsap freshman Madison Rousell, who set a personal best in a high school meet in the 50 -yard freestyle of 25.25 seconds, easily under the 25.8 needed to qualify for state.

She also requalified for state in the 100-yard freestyle race in 55.52.

“I want to get my 50 time down to 24.9,” said Rousell, a student at Sedgwick Junior High. “I did it in club and I think I can do it at the high school.”

Erin Carpenter, Stephanie Pearson and Michelle Calhoon provided Anderson with some highlights.

“Erin keeps improving and is getting close to the state times in the 100 backstroke,” the SK coach said. “Michelle just missed a district-qualifying time in the 100 breast, but she dropped 7 seconds in one week, and Stephanie qualified for districts in the 500 free and we’re still working on her turn-around times.

“And our relay times are a little bit closer now to making the state times. This is the time the girls should be at their exhaustion point, but they’re still getting faster.”

With Olympic and Gig Harbor also having a meet simultaneously, Anderson said this was a preview of what could come at districts on Halloween.

“Win or lose, it’s always fun to get in the water with these teams,” he said.

The Wolves host Olympic on Thursday, Oct. 9, while Central Kitsap is at Gig Harbor.

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