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.

With a crowd of state qualifiers converging on Federal Way, the competition is expected to be intense -- and perhaps life-changing.

Last year, Prosser's Mackenzie Gant garnered college interest after shaving about six seconds off her time in the 200-yard individual medley. She's now swimming for Seattle University.

Prosser/Grandview coach Kerry Warden says the Mukilteo Invite also helps swimmers learn how to behave outside a dual meet, where the environment is more casual.

"They have to know what's happening, what lane they're in, where they're going," said Warden, who will bring seven swimmers from Prosser. "We really stressed that last year. We didn't have anyone miss an event, and we felt really good about that."

Fun is part of the equation, too, according to Southridge coach Jason Hart, whose team will appear at the Mukilteo Invite for the fifth year in a row.

"We let them stay up late," he said. "When it comes time for districts, they have that out of their systems."

Top returning swimmers from last year include Walla Walla's Emma Timm-Ballard, who placed in the top 10 in the 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle as a freshman; Prosser junior Hailey Rankin, a top-10 placer in the 500 free and 100 breaststroke; and Moses Lake senior Courtney Schwiesow, the fourth-place finisher in the 100 breaststroke.

Kennewick junior Hailey Murphy, a three-time state qualifier in the 100 butterfly, is considered an early favorite in the event.

In diving, Moses Lake senior Sammy Hendrickson, Southridge sophomore Danielle Freund and Kennewick sophomore Samantha Lester will try to move further up in the top 10.

"It'll remind the west side that the east-side teams are alive and well," Piper said.

* Katie Dorsey: 509-582-1526; kdorsey@tricityherald.com