Kennewick High School junior Hailey Murphy will compete this weekend at the state swimming and diving championships for a school-record third year in a row.

This time, though, she will have some friends along for the ride.

Murphy and her 200-yard freestyle relay teammates -- sophomore Sam Lester, junior Jacque Ines and senior Alexis Klippert -- found out this past weekend that they received Kennewick's first state relay berth.

Based on their third-place finish at districts, one-hundredth of a second behind runner-up Eastmont, the Lions were awarded a wild card in the 24-team state field in Federal Way.

"We raced our butt off in that race," said Murphy, who will compete on her own in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly. "We all raced our hearts out. It was unbelievable."

Klippert found out about the state berth via a voicemail from Lions coach Erin Holmes.

"I'm screaming, running around the house -- 'Mom, we're going to state!' Then I call Jacque, and we start screaming," Klippert said.

The screamfest continued when Klippert and Ines called Lester, who was with her grandfather.

"I had to be quiet," Lester said. "I was in a retirement home."

Now the Lions are shouting from the pool, the rooftops, any place they can find. Sending a relay team to state is a major confidence boost for Kennewick, which didn't win a league meet this year.

"Football's going to state. Volleyball's going to state. We're going to state. It's great to be a part of that history," Klippert said. "I always think, 'I can't make history, I'm not good enough,' but together, we're unstoppable."

While they're not racing, Klippert, Ines, Lester and relay alternate Daicee Singer will cheer on Murphy, who went to state as a freshman in the 100 fly and 500 free, then again in 2010 in the 100 fly and 200 IM.

This year, Murphy is seeded sixth in the 100 fly and 12th in the 200 IM after finishing second in both events at districts.

"It's her year," Klippert said. "She's been busting her butt trying to represent her school and herself. She's in the pool the longest out of anyone."

Murphy is just the third Kennewick swimmer to compete individually at state. Denise Denison went to state in 1984-85, followed by Sarah Johnson in 1996. Kim Malady was a state diver for the Lions in the 1990s.

"It's awesome that I get to go, but then again, when I go, I get to represent my school," Murphy said. "It makes me feel happy, and it makes me proud."

No matter what happens at state, the Lions are excited they get to experience it together.

"Our focus was to make it so we're a big family," Klippert said. "Our goal was accomplished. We love each other, and we've got each other's back."