South exceeds expectations at district meet

All South swimming coach Dennis Anderson wanted out of last weekend’s West Central District meet was for his 200-yard medley relay team to post a state-qualifying time.

What he got was that and much more, as the Wolves not only posted their best time of the year, they came away with the district title in that event, helping the team to a third-place finish.

“I wanted Wilson,” Anderson said of the second-place team. “I thought we were going to get them but we ran just a little short. We had a chance because we did make up a lot of ground in the finals.”

South scored 199 points to finish behind Gig Harbor (269) and Wilson (208)

The Wolves will now have two weeks off to prepare for the Nov. 11-12 state meet at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, hoping to improve on their 12th-place finish last year.

And that is a realistic goal, Anderson said. Especially with the numbers of qualifiers South has this year and the quality of those swimmers.

But the team had to overcome a poor start on Friday to get there.

“It’s kind of funny because you can always get a feel (for what’s going to happen) right after the first event,” Anderson said. “And we came out flat. Obviously, the girls that were supposed to be in the finals, they held their serve and made the finals. But Saturday, we came in and just swam out of our heads.

“For some reason it’s just real hard for my girls to get up for that first day,” Anderson said. “Luckily, they’re fast enough to allow themselves to have not such a hot day.”

The tandem of Madison Rousell, Helen Tripple, Kate Hubner and Jordan Wolfe got the medley relay qualified with a winning time of one minute, 57.57 seconds. Anderson said the group had not come close to that time all year long but somehow put it all together at the right time.

With the 200 medley making the trip, South now has all three of the relay teams qualified for the state meet.

Rousell, the defending champ in the 100-yard freestyle, served notice that she’s out to repeat by winning that event with a solid time of 52.85. The junior also claimed the 50 free title, the event she placed second in at last year’s state meet, with a strong time of 24.52

Anderson said Rousell had the 100 free won at the start as she took an half a length lead right off the blocks and just cruised to the win.

“When she’s out in the lead, she’s tough to beat,” Anderson said.

Right behind Rousell in the 50 free was Tripple, who placed second with a time of 25.55. Tripple also turned in a nice swim in the 100 free, taking fifth place at 55.84.

Anderson said other strong performances were turned in by Megan Finnie in the 500 free and by Hubner in the 200 individual medley. Hubner’s time won the consolation bracket and gives her a chance to earn an allocation bid into the tournament.

Hubner is also waiting to see if she will be allocated in the 100 breaststroke as well, which is her better event.

With the way his team performed during Friday’s finals, Anderson is already excited about the upcoming state meet.

“We’re probably in better shape this year than we were last year,” Anderson said.

Swimming

West Central District Meet

At Foss High School, Tacoma

Team scores – 1. Gig Harbor 269; 2.  Wilson 208; 3. South Kitsap 199; 4. Central Kitsap 113; 5. Olympia 105; 6. Stadium 99; 7. Olympic 88; 8. Port Angeles 88; 9. Capital 79; 10. North Kitsap 51; 11. Foss 40; 12. Shelton 37; 13. Bremerton 17.

Individuals (winners/South Kitsap swimmers)

200 medley relay - 1, South Kitsap (Madison Rousell, Helen Tripple, Kate Hubner, Jordan Wolfe) 1:57.57. 200 free - 1, Isabel Fischer (Foss) 1:56.01; 8, Megan Finnie (SK) 2:03.13. 200 IM - 1, Kelly Fitzgerald (Olyc) 2:12.75; 7, Kate Hubner (SK) 2:24.51; 11, Jordan Wolfe (SK) 2:28.39. 50 free - 1, Rousell (SK) 24.52; 2, Helen Tripple (SK) 25.55. Diving - 1, Jackie Bivvie (GH) 283.45; 3, Alyssa Drevniak (SK) 2633.10; Cami Krier (SK) 165.30. 100 fly - 1, Dav Shelman (Cap) 1:01.64. 100 free - 1, Rousell (SK) 52.85; 5, Tripple (SK) 55.84. 500 free— 1, Molly Spence (Wil) 5:15.09; 2, Finnie (SK) 5:20.84; 5, Desirae Reimers (SK) 5:39.34. 200 free relay - 1, Gig Harbor 1:42.62; 7, South Kitsap 1:48.91. 100 back - 1, Fischer (Foss) 57.84; 10, Airlie Adams (SK) 1:09.82. 100 breast - 1, Fitzgerald (Olyc) 1:08.69; 2, Hubner (SK) 1:11.57; 5, Wolfe (SK) 1:13.22. 400 free - 1, Gig Harbor 3:44.17; 4, South Kitsap 3:54.74.

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