Swimmer Jax Thaxton, diver Matthew Craig and a trio of Sequim High relay teams are headed to the West Central District meet, and depending on qualifiers from other schools, more Wolves may join their teammates in individual district swims thanks to wild cards.

Sequim saw its 400 free relay team of Alex Berikoff, Liam Payne, Christian Goodrich and Thaxton earn SHS’s most recent district spot in the aptly-named “Last Chance” divisional meet in Port Angeles on Jan. 31. The team shed 14 seconds off a previous best with a 4:18.98 mark.

“It was great to see them swim with determination and succeed; it was awesome to watch,” Sequim coach Linda Moats said. Liam Payne was the anchor for the relay team and stepped up by cutting 4.5 seconds off his portion.

Craig, a two-time state meet diver, earned a district berth after taking second place with 329.85 points.

Thaxton, who already had qualified for districts in the 100 backstroke earlier this season, swam exhibition in the event in Port Angeles, improving his season best by 1.8 seconds (1:08.73)

He also improved his 50 free time by 0.13 seconds, placing fourth overall in 26.35 seconds.

Sequim’s 200 medley and 200 free relay teams will join the 400 free relay squad at districts as well after earned qualifying times earlier this season.

For swimmers, the West Central District meet is Feb. 10-11 at Hazen High School in Renton; Craig and other divers compete at Lindbergh High in Renton.

Top district finishers and state qualifiers compete at the 2A state meet held Feb. 17-18 in Federal Way.

Other divisional highlights

At the divisional meet on Jan. 31, Thaxton also improved his backstroke leg of the 200 medley relay to help Sequim place sixth in that event; Goodrich had a personal best in the butterfly leg as well.

Payne was fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:20.49) and sixth in the 200 individual medley, while Berikoff was fifth in the 200 IM.

Sam Frymer earned fourth place in the 200 free (2:58.94) and was fourth in the Silver division in the 100 backstroke.

Goodrich placed sixth overall in the 100 free (1:03.15).

Steve Nugyen cut two seconds off his 50 free time (31.60) and 5.5 seconds in the 100 free (1:16.91) to place fourth in the Silver division.

James Thayer (33.72) and Ian Miller (38.32) both cut at least two seconds off their personals bests in the 50 free.

”We had some great swims, some good swims and some not so good swims today,” Moats said.

“We saw a lot of improvement either in time or technique from all of our swimmers. Team support was especially great today, with everyone cheering each other on and congratulating them on a great effort.”