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."

Ruiz won the Class 2A 200-yard individual medley and 100 freestyle at this year's state championships. She headlines a list of All-Area swimming and diving first-teamers that includes:

* Richland sophomore Lisa Bratton, the Class 4A 200 IM state champion and fifth-place finisher in the 500 free;

* Hanford senior Melissa Merrill and junior Stephanie Tixier, who each had two individual top-five Class 3A state finishes and helped lead the Falcons to two state relay titles;

* Southridge senior Alisha Sanchez, who returned from three shoulder dislocations this year to place fifth at state in the 3A 50 freestyle and anchor a fifth-place finish in the 200 medley relay;

* Walla Walla sophomore Emma Timm-Ballard, third at state in the 4A 100 backstroke;

* Prosser junior Hailey Rankin, the 2A state runner-up in the 100 butterfly and 500 free; and

* Moses Lake seniors Courtney Schwiesow, who swam a lifetime best in the preliminaries and placed fifth in the Class 4A state 100 breaststroke, and Sammy Hendrickson, the eighth-place finisher in the 4A 1-meter diving competition.

Kathy Piper, who helped guide Hanford to a third-place 3A state finish and eighth-place Richland to a school-best 105 points in the 4A meet, is the All-Area Coach of the Year.

Ruiz, Othello's only swimmer, scored 40 points with her state titles, placing the school 18th in the team standings.

It might have seemed Ruiz didn't have much to worry about in the finals, but she entered the 100 free with the second-best time in preliminaries, trailing two-time defending champion Katie Kaestner of Anacortes. It was Ruiz's first time as the No. 2 seed entering a state final.

The nerves disappeared, however, come race time. Ruiz finished one-hundredth of a second off the state meet record, adding that title to the 200 IM title she won earlier in the night, as well as the 200 and 500 free (2010), and 50 free and 100 back (2008).

"The whole time, all I was thinking is, 'If I get out hard, there's no way this girl can get me,' " Ruiz said. "Right off the block, I busted out, and it all worked out."

One of Ruiz's proudest achievements has been representing her community so well on a big stage. Right before the final event of the state championships, she was named the Class 2A Swimmer of the Meet.

"I was so excited because my family stayed, and it was good to know I'm recognized, that people recognize what I'm doing," Ruiz said.

Prosser/Grandview coach Kerry Warden said she had "no choice" but to vote for Ruiz as district swimmer of the year.

"She just seems to yank herself to a higher level by a long shot when she needs to," Warden said. "She's just built for it. She's so strong. It's rare when swimmers have the natural talent and the desire."

Ruiz's reputation precedes her among other swimmers in Washington. Hours before the 2A finals, Amber Cratsenberg of 4A Thomas Jefferson became the first girl to win each individual state freestyle event.

"That's kind of nifty," Cratsenberg was quoted as saying by the Seattle Times. "Of course, Natilee is probably going to do it later tonight. But I can still say I'm the first, by a couple of hours."

Ruiz's success has helped improve the stature of a classification that has only existed at the state level since 2006.

"I want people to not overlook 2A swimming," Ruiz said. "It's still there. It's just as important as 4A or 3A.

"I wanted to participate in high school swimming, see what it's like. I wanted to be part of a team, be part of a team feeling. I hope people don't overlook 2A anymore."

It still hasn't sunk in for Ruiz that she has competed in her last high school meet.

"We just had our banquet on Thursday. It's weird thinking that was it," Ruiz said. "Now college is going to happen, and that's what I'm shooting for. It's sad knowing I can't go back anymore. I just want to pause life. It's just going too fast."

But those who know her believe she has the drive and ability to succeed in whatever she does next, including the U.S. Olympic Trials in June.

"As long as she goes for it," St. Onge said, "her best times are still ahead of her."

FIRST TEAM

Natilee Ruiz, Othello, senior

Lisa Bratton, Richland, sophomore

Melissa Merrill, Hanford, senior

Stephanie Tixier, Hanford, junior

Hailey Rankin, Prosser, junior

Alisha Sanchez, Southridge, senior

Emma Timm-Ballard, Walla Walla, sophomore

Courtney Schwiesow, Moses Lake, senior

Diver: Sammy Hendrickson, Moses Lake, senior

Coach: Kathy Piper, Richland/Hanford

SECOND TEAM

Hailey Murphy, Kennewick, junior

Megan O'Leary, Southridge, senior

Nicole Weinman, Richland, junior

Linnea Peacock, Hanford, sophomore

Sarah Olsen, Richland, junior

Lisa Tixier, Hanford, sophomore

Mylie Oberg, Hanford, sophomore

Diver: Danielle Freund, Southridge, sophomore