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Shinkle, Ellefson medal at state swim meet

Published 6:30 pm Tuesday, November 25, 2025

By Sequim Gazette staff

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Photo courtesy of Cherise Feser Sequim sent six swimmers to the WIAA 1A/2A State Swim and Dive Meet in Federal Way, from left, Emma Rhodes (alternate), Naomi Beglyakov, Holland Sol, Annie Ellefson, Ava Shinkle, and Violet Phillips (alternate). Shinkle finished fifth in the 200 IM and Ellefson took eighth in the 100 breaststroke to earn medals.
Photo courtesy of Eric Ellefson Ava Shinkle swims in the 100 fly finals at the 1A/2A state meet to finish ninth overall. She earned a fifth place overall in the 200 IM to earn a medal.
Photo courtesy of Eric Ellefson Annie Ellefson, seen swimming in the 1A/2A state meet, finished eighth in the 100 breaststroke to earn a medal.
Photo courtesy of Eric Ellefson/ Ava Shinkle tags the wall after swimming the butterfly portion of the 200 IM relay as teammate Holland Sol takes off to finish the relay’s freestyle portion. They and Naomi Beglyakov and Annie Ellefson finished 18th in state.
Photo courtesy of Eric Ellefson/ Naomi Beglyakov tags the wall as Annie Ellefson takes off in the 200 IM relay. They and Ava Shinkle and Holland Sol finished 18th in state.

Personal records and medals highlighted Sequim High School’s girls swim team’s strong efforts at the WIAA 1A/2A State Championships Swim and Dive Meet on Nov. 14-15.

Junior Ava Shinkle delivered two standout performances at the meet in Federal Way’s King County Aquatic Center, said Sequim co-coach Cherise Feser.

Shinkle took fifth in the 200 IM setting a PR of 2:18.72 in the finals for a state medal, also improving upon her seventh place finish (2:21.69) in 2024’s meet.

She followed the 200 IM this year with a second PR in the 100 butterfly by swimming 1:03:10 to win her heat and finish ninth overall. At last year’s state meet, Shinkle finished 11th (1:05.25).

Sequim senior Annie Ellefson also hit high marks for the Wolves earning a state medal in the 100 breaststroke with an eighth place finish in 1:13.34. She improved on her placement and time from 2024 when she placed 15th (1:18.51).

Ellefson also competed in the 100 freestyle and swam to a 19th place finish (1:01.04).

She, Shinkle, Naomi Beglyakov, and Holland Sol competed for the Wolves in the 200-yard IM relay to finish 18th in 2:12.03.

Both Ellefson and Shinkle swam with the 200 medley and 400 free relay teams at state in 2024.

As a team, Sequim finished 18th overall with 34 team points, while Port Angeles finished 12th in state with 45 points. Bainbridge won state over 38 other teams.

Sequim’s alternates who traveled with the team included Violet Phillips and Emma Rhodes.

Sequim co-coach Sarah Thorson said this season was great for all the girls with a lot of growth.

“We saw great improvement throughout the season, which resulted in more swimmers making it to the postseason than we have seen in years past,” she said.

“We are looking forward to another great season next year as we have many swimmers returning.”

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