Swimmers continue winning ways

Tomahawk swimmers thank seniors during their final regular-season home meet

MARYSVILLE The Tomahawk swim team thanked its seniors during their final regular-season home meet against Lake Stevens, but several underclassmen stole their thunder with nice performances.
One such showing was the varsity debut of freshman diver Marysa Eastman. With a six-dive score of 171.45, Eastman took first place in the event.
I was impressed with her ability, with her stage presence, said swim and dive coach Jaci Legore Hodgins. Shed been practicing great, but to step up in a meet as a freshman, each dive keeps throwing better and better dives, it was just so much fun to watch.
Eastman and her M-P teammates Kalyn Thomas and Addie Dittenber went 1-2-3 in the event, leaving the Lake Stevens squad in their dust.
The 200 medley relay of Kami Girard, Melinda Blomberg, Amy Renslo and Michaela Caldwell closed in on a state-qualifying time. Finishing in 1:58.71, the relay is just tenths of a second from a showing at the King County Aquatics Center next month.
Assuming the relay will qualify, a drop of two seconds in the 100 butterfly would make Renslo eligible for a second appearance there. The freshmans 1:03.95 time is short of the 1:02.10 needed to make it, but she easily won the event, edging Lake Stevens senior Mckenzie Sutton by nearly two seconds.
All in all, the Tomahawks took first in eight out of 12 events to defeat Lake Stevens 119-67. Furthermore, they did it without swimming everyone in their strongest events. With the end of the season quickly approaching, Legore Hodgins said she wanted to give the girls a chance to take a break from their usual events.
Thats why we put Melinda in the 200 freestyle. We knew that would only help her in the 500, Legore Hodgins said.
The meet came two days after a closer home victory 100-86 over Wesco South standouts Kamiak Oct. 9.
It was the first time in the history of the rivalry that M-P had defeated the Knights.
The star of the meet was Megan Shoemaker, Legore Hodgins said.
The sophomore qualified for districts in the 50 and 100 freestyle, and swam on the second-place 400 freestyle relay in the meets closing event. Swimming with Leah Gordon, Amanda Collins and Amanda Vincelette, Legore Hodgins said the girls swam some of their best splits in the relay, helping to secure the meet win.
I think it was just an overall great team effort, she said.
The girls close their season against undefeated Wesco North rival Jackson, Oct. 18, in Mill Creek.

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