Girls swim: Eight girls, so far, headed to districts

Eight Sequim swimmers have locked up spots for individual and relay events at districts next week.

By Matthew Nash • October 26, 2016 1:30 am
Joie Darminio swims the 100 breaststroke against North Kitsap on Oct. 20. She qualified for districts in the event earlier in the week against Port Townsend with a time of 1:22.16. Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash
Joie Darminio swims the 100 breaststroke against North Kitsap on Oct. 20. She qualified for districts in the event earlier in the week against Port Townsend with a time of 1:22.16. Sequim Gazette photos by Matthew Nash

Eight Sequim swimmers have locked up spots for individual and relay events at districts next week.

Sequim’s Isa Benitez, Joie Darmino, Sonja Govertsen, Jasmine Itti, Sydnee Linnane, Anna Miehe, Sydney Swanson and Meguire Vander Velde will compete at the West Central Districts III 1A/2A swim championships at Hazen High School, slated for Nov. 4-5.

Those Wolves qualified in three to eight events but what they’ll be swimming hasn’t been determined just yet. At least two more SHS swimmers had close enough qualifying times as well that they could be on cusp of making needed times at the Divisional Meet on Tuesday, Oct. 25, in Port Angeles, Sequim head coach Anita Benitez said.

The Wolves (4-3 overall) finished their regular season with two home meets at the YMCA of Sequim on Oct. 18 with a 121-41 win over Port Townsend (0-7) and a 94-76 loss to North Kitsap (6-1).

Against Port Townsend, the 200 free relay of Itti, Linnane, Miehe and Govertsen cut its best time by 5 seconds and another half second against North Kitsap to come in just over 2 seconds (1:50.54) from a state-qualifying time.

Darminio also made the districts cut in the 100 breaststroke swimming a 1:22.16, trimming 1 second from her time.

Vander Velde also shed 3 seconds to come just under 2 seconds for districts in the 500 free (6:35.79).

Between the two meets, nine more girls set personal records — Madeline Patterson cut 1 second in the 50 free (36.19); Aubree Young cut 2 seconds in the 200 IM (3:30.36); Jaycee Thompson-Porrazzo cut 6 seconds in the 200 IM (2:51.74) and 4 seconds from her 100 fly (1:19.89); Stephanie Grow cut 3 seconds in the 100 free (1:11.20); Angela Carrillo-Burge cut 10 seconds in the 500 free (6:44.45) and 1 second in the 50 free (31.04); Kaitlyn Davis cut 31 seconds in the 500 free (8:16.36), 1 second in the 50 free (37.86) and 1 second in the 100 free (1:25.40); Heidi Schmitt cut 4 seconds in the 100 breaststroke (1:35.09); Amanda Murphy cut 1.5 seconds in the 50 free (32.22); and Carmen Wilwert cut one-tenth of a second in the 50 free (35.49) and 1 second in the 100 breaststroke (1:26.76).

Benitez said the meet against North Kitsap was closer than usual but they “were able to hold their own.”

In previous years, Sequim lost to the Vikings 112-56 in 2015, 113-67 in 2014, and 125-51 in 2013.

Following districts, those who qualify will compete in the 2A state tournament Nov. 11-12 in Federal Way.