Year in and year out, winning a state championship is a common goal for members of the Mercer Island varsity swim program, be it the girls team in the fall or the boys team in the winter.
“Our main goal for the end of the season is to win state,” said Hunter Peshkin, one of the boys varsity team’s three senior captains. “We have a really good history of winning.”
“We’re trying to get as many swimmers into the postseason as possible,” said fellow captain Jimmy Markwith. “The more people that have the chance to get those spots at the state meet, the better.”
The Islander boys have certainly been contenders over the last decade-plus, boasting seven 3A state swim and dive championships over 11 years. In each of the last five seasons, Mercer Island has finished in the top three at the state meet, last winning the 3A team title in 2014.
Mercer Island head coach Evan Moline knows firsthand what it takes to win a state championship. Throughout his high school career, Moline competed on state-title winning teams from 2008 to 2011.
“[This team] wants to add a banner [to our banner wall]. I told them it’s been three seasons since the last one, and I talked to them about how when I was here, we helped put up four banners and what that takes,” Moline said. “I was on those teams and I knew what the atmosphere was like, what everyone’s attitudes were like and how supportive we were of each other to make sure we accomplished our goals.”
This year’s Islander squad is a younger one, but not without state-tournament experience. Among Mercer Island’s returning state qualifiers are junior Oliver Hoff and sophomores Killian Riley and James Richardson. Hoff and Riley were members of Mercer Island’s title-winning 400 free relay team last winter and both medaled in the 500 free. Hoff, who has already posted state-qualifying times in three events this year, also placed seventh in the 200 free. Richardson placed eighth in the 100 back.
“I think we have a lot of really strong swimmers across the board,” said senior captain Chris Shin. “I think where our depth comes in is where a lot of our swimmers are improving and stepping up to become potential state swimmers.”
The Mercer Island swimmers expect their first big test of the season will come the weekend after winter break at the Kentridge Invite, held at the King County Aquatic Center. The road through the KingCo 3A league, and possibly to a state title, will run through the division rival and reigning back-to-back state champion Bellevue Wolverines, a team the Islanders face Jan. 26 at Mary Wayte Pool.
“Our dual meet against Bellevue at the end of the season is a big one,” Peshkin said.
“It’s our last dual meet before the postseason. I think it’s gonna be a really good gauge on how we’re gonna match up with them this year,” Shin said.
Whatever the goal, Moline hopes to help his swimmers develop a championship mindset now that will pay off for them later on down the road.
“I think a state championship is definitely something that we can do,” Moline said. “If we put together some good swims and get as many people to the state meet that we can, I think we stand a very good chance. A lot of it comes down to the work that we put in, not just the week or two before, but from the start of the season.”
