Mercer Island High School’s boys swim and dive squad emerged from the pool victorious at the 3A state meet on Feb. 19 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
The locals took first in the team standings with 367.5 points, with Lakeside School way back with 258 points in second.
Jakson Winn won both the 100 freestyle (45.41, an All-American Consideration time) and 100 backstroke (50.71), and swam on the first-place 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays. Matt Williamson won the 200 freestyle (1:41.08) and swam on the winning 400 free relay.
The 200 medley relay (Winn, Emmett Ralston, Brandon Petersen and Matthew Shield) set a state record with an All-American Automatic time of 1:32.42. The 200 free relay (Winn, Ralston, Colin Carmichael and Shield) won with an All-American Automatic time of 1:24.16. The 400 free relay (Petersen, Evan Liu, Williamson and Carmichael) won with an All-American Consideration time of 3:08.13.
Mercer Island completed the postseason championship trifecta, first winning KingCo and then districts before netting a triumphant state experience.
“It feels amazing to see the team pull through and finish off our undefeated season,” senior Winn said. “For me personally, state was less about winning my events, it was about winning the events for the team. It feels awesome, and I’m psyched to see how the team does next year.”
Williamson, a junior, was thrilled to win the 200 free, an event he’s been working on all season. Like Winn, he spotlighted the team effort at state.
“Our team is incredibly grateful to have this meet, given the last two years. We didn’t get to have state last year, so this was our chance to show everyone how strong we are. It was a great result, both individual and team, and I am excited to give one last hurrah next year,” he said.
Head coach Jennie King said the team displayed consistency all season and carried its “team not me” focus into the state realm. During the winter campaign, the boys were driven to succeed and interjected fun into practices and team events, King added.
“There was a steady confidence throughout the season that carried from the regular season into championship season,” she said. “The strength of the team was our numbers, our belief in our ability to win and our desire to win. These boys believed they could do it. So very proud that they never let the moment get bigger than them.”
The Mercer Island High School 200 medley relay placed first with a state record and All-American Automatic time of 1:32.42. They are, front, senior Brandon Petersen and junior Emmett Ralston, and back, senior Jakson Winn and senior Matthew Shield. Photo courtesy of Northwest Sports Photography, Inc.
