Tomahawk swimmers enjoy big first week

The addition of freshman Hannah Taylor has provided a big boost to the Tomahawk swim team in the first week of competition.

After breaking a school record and qualifying for state in the 100 freestyle during a relay at the season’s jamboree, the newcomer had two more state-qualifying times and another school record in the team’s first home meet of the season against Sehome. With an All-American Consideration time in the 200 individual medley, Taylor swam a 2:07.58, seven and a half seconds faster than the state cutoff and a mark that would have been good enough for fifth place at the state swim meet last fall.

“The bottom line is we have a solid base of (nine) Mighty Marlin girls who contributed to the overall success of our first week,” said coach Jaci Legore Hodgins.

Another one, junior Jewel LeValley, swam a state-qualifying time in the 200 freestyle at the jamboree after earning a state wild card for the event last year.

LeValley, Taylor, senior Megan Shoemaker and sophomore Karoline Schaufler have trained twice a day with the swimming club, which has paid dividends, according to Legore Hodgins. Sophomore Kendall Vincelette, junior Ava Commissariat, senior Nikita Cheema and junior Amanda Collins have also trained in the offseason.

It was the depth of the Tomahawk swimmers that helped them defeat Sehome, when the 200 medley relay and Taylor provided all three of the team’s victories. One-two finishes in the medley relay, plus a sweep of the top three spots in the 100 butterfly gave M-P points down the board that ended in a 111-74 win.

The girls capped the week with a win at the Bainbridge Relays Sept. 12, after tying their host the year before.

The diving relay of seniors Sarah Clark, Alaina Fordon and junior Marysa Eastman blew out the competition on the boards with a score of 190.85. The Sehome team that took second scored 102.85. The Tomahawks second diving relay would have placed third with a score of 100.30 if their classmates hadn’t already earned team points in the contest.

Contact Marysville Globe Sports Reporter Danielle Szulczewski at dszulczewskir@marysvilleglobe.com or 360-659-1300.

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