Girls swimming: Wolves placed 20th at state 2A meet

That didn’t take long.

Freshman Ava Shinkle helped lead a pack of Wolves to the class 2A state finals last week, as Sequim’s swim crew raced to a 20th place finish overall in Federal Way.

Shinkle earned a spot on the medal stand in her first prep season, placing sixth in the 200 individual medley with a 2:24.85 finish.

She earned a second top-10 finish, racing to 10th place in 100 butterfly in 1:05.43.

SHS sophomore Annie Ellefson earned an 11th place finish in the 100 breaststroke, touching the wall in 1:14.39

She also competed in the 200 free, finishing 22nd in 2:15.51.

Sequim’s 200 medley and 400 free relays also earned spots in the B finals, each placing 15th. The 200 medley team of Shinkle, Ellefson, junior Melisa Nelson and senior Natalie Cross took 15th with a finish of 2:08.17, while the same quartet finished the 400 free in 4:10.74.

“Overall, it was a fantastic weekend, with great competition and some personal best times achieved,” Sequim co-coach Sarah Thorson said.

“We look forward to another great season next year with all but one swimmer returning (senior Natalie Cross).”

Sequim tallied 34 team points. It was the Wolves’ best finish at the finals since 2018, when SHS placed 11th.

The Olympic League was well-represented at state. North Kitsap took third with 159 team points. Sequim’s cross-Peninsula rival Port Angeles placed fourth with 143 — the Riders’ highest finish since 2017. Bremerton took 16th.

Photo courtesy of Eric Ellefson / Sequim’s Ava Shinkle competes in the 200 individual medley at the class 2A state meet in Federal Way last week. Shinkle placed sixth.

Photo courtesy of Eric Ellefson / Sequim’s Ava Shinkle competes in the 200 individual medley at the class 2A state meet in Federal Way last week. Shinkle placed sixth.

Photo courtesy of Eric Ellefson / Sequim’s Natalie Cross helps the Wolves place 15th in the 200 medley relay at the class 2A state finals in Federal Way last week.

Photo courtesy of Eric Ellefson / Sequim’s Natalie Cross helps the Wolves place 15th in the 200 medley relay at the class 2A state finals in Federal Way last week.

Photo courtesy of Eric Ellefson / Sequim’s Annie Ellefson competes in the 100 breaststroke at the class 2A state finals in Federal Way last week. Ellefson placed 11th in the event.

Photo courtesy of Eric Ellefson / Sequim’s Annie Ellefson competes in the 100 breaststroke at the class 2A state finals in Federal Way last week. Ellefson placed 11th in the event.