Girls swimming preview: Top teams, swimmers and storylines
HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SWIMMING PRIMER
TEAM TO BEAT
The programs up north have locals hunting for a top spot early. Olympia shook Gig Harbor and Stadium after the Class 4A Narrows League disbanded, but now has perennial state contenders Curtis and Puyallup to tussle with in the 4A South Puget Sound League. The Bears are young, with 29 freshman and sophomores complimenting a group of nine upperclassmen, led by three-time state qualifier Ally Norman. Gig Harbor (seventh in 4A last year) dropped to 3A, and joins the newly created 3A South Sound Conference, which also includes Capital and North Thurston — the latter of which had a 63-dual meet win streak broken by newcomer Peninsula in its season opener.
SWIMMERS TO WATCH
NAME | SCHOOL | YEAR |
Hannah Barker | Timberline | Jr. |
Collected a pair of fourth-place finishes at the 4A state meet last year in the 500 free and 100 back. Already qualified for state in 100 back and 200 IM. | ||
Maya Lawson-Rivera | North Thurston | Sr. |
Four-event state qualifier at the 3A meet last season. Finished third in the 200 IM and 100 breast. Has already qualified for state in the 100 breast this year. | ||
Ally Norman | Olympia | Sr. |
Three-time 4A state meet qualifier. Took eighth in the 100 fly last year. | ||
CeCe Pennella | Black Hills | Jr. |
Southwest District IV diving champion last season. Took 13th at the 2A state meet in second appearance. | ||
Shelvey Swett | Capital | Sr. |
Coach Burke Anderson said a tremendous offseason has made the difference for Swett, who qualified for two events at the 3A meet last season. | ||
RETURNING STATE COMPETITORS
4A — Anna Daniels-Brown, Olympia, jr.; Amelia Moore, Olympia, sr.; Ally Norman, Olympia, sr.; Emma Song, Olympia, soph.; Lacey Wright, Olympia, jr.; Ashley Yen, Olympia, soph.
3A — Hannah Barker, Timberline, jr.; Cynthia Czikall, Capital, jr.; Kendall Escene, North Thurston, sr.; Hanna Grantham, North Thurston, jr.; Hannah Heard, Capital, jr.; Brooke Kuebler, North Thurston, fr.; Katherine Lane, Capital, soph.; Maya Lawson-Rivera, North Thurston, sr.; Alexa Nooney, Capital, soph.; Elaine Rocamora, Timberline, sr.; Shelvey Swett, Capital, sr.; Olivia Young, Capital, jr.
2A — Claire Barnard, Tumwater, soph.; Brielle Bryan, Black Hills, soph.; Josie Krysinski, Black Hills, sr.; CeCe Pennella, Black Hills, jr.; Jacqueline Pilon, Black Hills, jr.; Leah Rietema, Black Hills, jr.; Hope Roethke, Tumwater, jr.; Amanda Rueda, Centralia, soph.; Hunter Snyder, W.F. West, sr.; Kali Teal, Tumwater, jr.; Emma Tufts, W.F. West, jr.
Lauren Smith: 360-754-5473, @smithlm12
This story was originally published September 27, 2016 at 11:05 AM with the headline "Girls swimming preview: Top teams, swimmers and storylines."