This weekend will be bittersweet for Richland/Hanford swim coach Kathy Piper as the athletes she has nurtured over the past several months go their separate ways to compete today and Saturday at districts.
The Bombers will still travel as planned to Central Washington University for the CBBN 4A meet, but a January decision by the WIAA sends the Falcons to Propstra Aquatic Center in Vancouver for the 3A competition.
After much deliberation, Piper decided to join the 18 Falcons while assistant coach Randy Willis will accompany 17 Bombers to Ellensburg.
"It's extremely difficult. It's tough to choose and we kind of went with our gut, with what would be the best fit for the group," Piper said. "These kids are really one team, and it's really hard on the kids as well as the coaching staff."
But there is a sunny side to the situation.
"On the other side, they're excited that there will be more room on the bus, not trapped like sardines," she said.
Wenatchee barely edged out Richland for the 4A district title a year ago, and both should challenge regular-season champion Moses Lake this year.
The top two swimmers in each event at both meets qualify for state in two weeks in Federal Way. The CWAC 2A meet will be held in conjunction with the 4A meet and also will qualify two swimmers to state.
Senior Casey Morris and junior Alden Welsch will both swim the 50- and 100-yard freestyles for Richland.
Sophomore Austin Armstrong is expected to make a good show in the backstroke for the Bombers, while freshman Nick Connors is a good bet to earn a state time in the 200 IM.
"A football player by fall and a swimmer by winter," Piper said of Armstrong. "He's big and strong and determined to make finals."
Piper expects that Hanford senior Miles Phillips (500 free), junior Robbie Pfaff (200 IM, 100 breast), sophomore Toby Liu (100 free) and freshman Devin Beatty (100 fly, 100 back) will bring depth to the Falcons' overall performance.
"These kids are the middle kids that score a lot of points at dual meets," Piper said. "They're the heart and soul of the team."
The 3A district diving event was decided Jan. 30 at CWU. B.J. Deatherage earned a state berth in diving for the Falcons.
"Richland still has the same battle, fighting to make up for lack of diving points," she said.
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Divers kick off district competition today
Divers kick off district competition today
District swimming and diving action begins today when the divers take to the board for preliminaries at Moses Lake.
The swimming competition is scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Ellensburg.
Among the heavy favorites in diving are Moses Lake senior Sammy Hendrickson in 4A and Southridge sophomore Danielle Freund in 3A. Freund qualified for state with an 11-dive total of 315.40 on Sept. 23 in Kennewick, while Hendrickson got her mark Oct. 7 with a 327.55 in Moses Lake.
Hanford, Richland divers left out of today's finale
Hanford, Richland divers left out of today's finale
WALLA WALLA -- In tight swimming meets, it can be diving that makes the difference.
But when one team has diving and the other doesn't, it can make for quite the conundrum.
In their CBBN 4A-3A regular-season finale today, Hanford (7-0) and Richland (6-1) will head to Walla Walla (6-0), but diving will be crossed off the event lineup because Walla Walla's home pool at Whitman College lacks a board. As a result, the Blue Devils don't have any divers on their squad.
State-qualifying swim times heating up
State-qualifying swim times heating up
Looking at the times of Mid-Columbia swimmers less than a week into the season, one might think the girls state championships in Federal Way were just around the corner, not two months away.
At Saturday's Eastern Washington Jamboree in Prosser, Hailey Rankin of the host Mustangs swam the 100-yard butterfly in a state-qualifying time of 1 minute, 2.32 seconds.
That night, more state qualifiers rolled in at the Richland Twilight Jamboree. Hanford senior Melissa Merrill qualified on her own in the 50 freestyle, then helped the Falcons achieve state-qualifying times in the 400 free and 200 medley relays.
Top swimmers prep for Mukilteo Invite
Top swimmers prep for Mukilteo Invite
The King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way will provide an early taste of state-caliber swimming during Saturday's Mukilteo Invite.
The Mid-Columbia will have plenty of representatives in the Olympic-sized pool. Richland, Moses Lake, Walla Walla, Hanford, Kennewick, Kamiakin, Southridge, Sunnyside and Prosser are bringing swimmers to the Mukilteo Invite, held at the same facility as the WIAA state championships in November.
"We wanted to give our girls some good outside competition to prove their times and swim indoors," said Richland/Hanford coach Kathy Piper, who
estimated 25 teams would participate.
Othello's Ruiz wins Tri-City Herald All-Area Swimmer of the Year
Othello's Ruiz wins Tri-City Herald All-Area Swimmer of the Year
Othello senior Natilee Ruiz, who this fall receives her third Tri-City Herald All-Area Swimmer of the Year honor, is a stellar example of the type of competitor this area can produce.
The six-time state champion, bound for San Diego State next year, not only has the times to back up her talent, but tremendous heart.
"When she did her (letter of intent) signing the other day, I said during my speech that she's an All-American athlete, she's a 4.0 valedictorian of her class, but she's an All-American human being," said Tony St. Onge, who has coached Ruiz as part of a co-op agreement with Moses Lake. "She's got great character. I'd call her a humble champion, which are the greatest champions. She's considerate of others. She's respectful. I'm confident that San Diego's thrilled to have her."
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