Hanford and Richland both won district boys swimming championships last season and will try to do it again this weekend in Ellensburg.
So far, the odds of repeating look pretty strong.
Hanford, which went 8-0 in league, will be one of three CBBN 3A teams competing Friday and Saturday at the Central Washington University Aquatic Center. The Falcons are led by sophomore Will Wertz, seeded first in the 200-yard freestyle and second in the 100 free, which he won last year.
Hanford's Jeevan Philip will aim to defend his 500 free title, while Andrew Peacock is the top seed in the 100 breaststroke. The Falcons are seeded first in all three relays.
Meanwhile, Richland (6-2) will swim in the 4A ranks.
The Bombers return a slew of district champions, including Nick Connors, Ryan Francis, Andrew Blanchard, Taylor Armstrong and Ashton Pollick, but the competition could be tougher.
Though Walla Walla went 3-5 last year in league, the Blue Devils turned their fortunes around this season under first-year coach Katharine Curles. They knocked off Richland in last Saturday's regular-season finale to finish 7-1.
The Blue Devils will be at a disadvantage in the team standings because they lack divers, but Walla Walla has several experienced district swimmers. Jonathon Klem, Austin Garrett, Max Troin, Josh Bumgarner, Zach Stauden-maier and Patrick Giedeman were top-five placers last year. Also, freshman Russell Skorina landed the No. 1 seed in the 100 breaststroke.
"Walla Walla's got the edge because they've got a little bit more of the 1-2 depth than we do," Richland/Hanford coach Kathy Piper said.
But with a 5-3 league record this season, Moses Lake can't be ruled out, either. Sophomore Kaelan Connacher and freshmen Brenden Eslick and Zack Johnston are seeded in the top three of their individual events.
With that, Piper is reminding her teams that positioning is key from Day One.
"You've got to finish whether you're 14th, 15th, 16th," Piper said. "All the points count."
In 2A, Prosser senior Nolan Saam will face Pullman's Chris Li, the reigning district champion in the 100 breaststroke and the only person to beat him in league this season in that event.
* Katie Dorsey: 582-1526; kdorsey@tricityherald.com
No. 1 area seeds
3A 200-yard medley relay: Hanford 1:46.68
4A 200 medley relay: Richland 1:45.50
3A 200 freestyle: Will Wertz (Han) 1:49.66
4A 200 free: Nick Connors (Rich) 1:48.49
4A 200 individual medley: Jonathon Klem (WW) 2:04.27
4A 50 free: Austin Garrett (WW) 22.79
4A 100 butterfly: Andrew Blanchard (Rich) 54.82
4A 100 free: Austin Garrett (WW) 50.71
3A 500 free: Jeevan Philip (Han) 5:14.27
4A 500 free: Nick Connors (Rich) 5:01.20
3A 200 free relay: Hanford 1:33.64
4A 200 free relay: Richland 1:32.90
4A 100 backstroke: Ashton Pollick (Rich) 57.09
3A 100 breaststroke: Andrew Peacock (Han) 1:05.68
4A 100 breaststroke: Russell Skorina (WW) 1:04.80
3A 400 free relay: Hanford 3:32.20
4A 400 free relay: Richland 3:28.90
