Girls swim/dive: 15 girls headed to districts

With four individual swimmers, three relays, three divers and five alternates, Sequim High School is sending the most girls to districts since 2007.

By Matthew Nash • November 5, 2014 2:35 pm
Jovelle Dewey takes a plunge while fellow district-bound swimmers and divers anticipate the splash. They include
Jovelle Dewey takes a plunge while fellow district-bound swimmers and divers anticipate the splash. They include

With four individual swimmers, three relays, three divers and five alternates, Sequim High School is sending the most girls to districts since 2007.

The girls vie for a state berth at districts in Hazen High School on Nov. 7-8 while divers go to Auburn on Nov. 7. The 2A state championships are held at the Federal Way Community Center on Nov. 14-15.

Individually, Dani Barrow, Jessica Craig, Victoria Fitzpatrick, Sydnee Linnane qualified throughout the season in multiple events including Barrow in every single swimming event minus diving and Linnane in seven events.

All four girls will swim the 400 free relay and 200 medley relay. Barrow will swim the 200 IM and 500 free, Linnane the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, Craig the 200 IM and 100 backstroke, and Fitzpatrick the 200 free.

They also qualified in the 200 free relay, but can only swim two relays, so Jaycee Thompson-Porrazzo, Kayley Lofstrom, Stephanie Grow and Annie Armstrong will swim the event. Alternate relay race swimmers include Megan O’Mera, Carmen Wilwert, Angela Carrillo-Burge, Kaylee Ditlefsen and Kailee Price.

Barrow, who swam the 200 IM at state last year, said she’s been telling the other girls how big and amazing the experience was for her.

“We have six lanes here and there they have two pools with eight lanes each,” Barrow said. “We have two officials maybe three at meets and they have 16 with one at each end of a lane watching for anything to DQ you on.”

This week, she’s planning to taper with her yardage in the pool from 7,000-8,000 yards to 1,000-2,000 yards a day to save her energy and increase her chances to return to state particularly in the 200 IM.

Diver Emily Van Dyken looks to return to state as well for a third time. At districts, she’s joined by Anna White and Jovelle Dewey.

Assistant Coach Mark Pincikowski said Dewey is close to state qualifying too while White continues to improve.

“Jovelle is a first-year diver and I didn’t think at beginning of year she’d be able to do what she’s done,” he said. “She hasn’t shown any fear. She’s been able to take direction and follow through. For a first-year diver, she’s phenomenal.”

As for who makes it to state, Pincikowski said a few girls have great shots of returning and going for the first time like Barrow, Linnane and Van Dyken.