Matt Roe breaks pair of 10-year-old swim records
By JOHN GALBREATH Sports Editor
Junior Matt Roe broke a pair of long-standing boys’ swim records during last week’s Spartan victories over three WesCo 4A south teams. PHOTO BY JOHN GALBREATH | STANWOOD/CAMANO NEWS
Stanwood junior Matt Roe easily glided through the competitive waters this week as he established two new individual school records, won another and helped his team score three other victories in relay events.
Roe swam a marvelous 2:01.45 state-qualifying time in the individual medley during the Sparts’ strong double victory over visiting Edmonds-Woodway (99- 71) and Mountlake Terrace (123-44) on Tuesday and then swam an impressive 1:04.37 school record time in the 100-yard breaststroke Thursday afternoon against Mariner (107-76) at the Kamiak pool.
Both of Roe’s school-record times bested marks that were swum in the first or second year of the Spartan boys’ swim program some 10 seasons ago.
In addition he cruised through the waves to a 55.8 clocking in the 100 butterfly against the Warriors and the Hawks of Mountlake Terrace.
During the relays he joined Justin Murrell, James McCune and David Escobar in the opening moments of the tri-meet to jointly record a first-place mark of 1:48, then teamed with Tyler Swanson, Tim Hammer and Escobar in the 200 free relay to win with a 1:38 clocking.
Against the Marauders he and Cameron Chaplik, Cole Farnsworth and Murrell combined to win with a time of 3:42 in the 400 free relay race.
Overall, the Spartans recorded 20 best times (and 13 district-qualifying marks) in the first meet and no less than 34 season-best clockings against Mariner.
Other victors in Tuesday’s meet were McCune in the 100 breaststroke (1:09), Hammer in the 200 free with a 1:55 time and the 500 free (5:08), David Escobar with a 23.9 in the 50 free, Murrell in the 100 free with a 53.7 mark, Farnsworth in the 100 backstroke with a clocking of 1:04 and the foursome of Murrell, Swanson, Hammer and Farnsworth in the 400- yard free relay (3:44).
Grabbing seconds for the Sparts were Swanson in the 100 back (1:07) and Murrell in the 200 free (1:58).
Swanson (200 IM, 2:22), Farnsworth (50 free, 25.1), McCune (100 free, 58.2) as well as the 200 free quartet of Jacob Land, Aaron Rice, Chaplik and David Escobar (1:50) took thirds in the meet with E-W and Mountlake Terrace.
The only individual fourths were earned by the freshmen Escobar brothers, Kevin (100 fly, 1:11) and David (100 breast, 1:12).
“We would especially like to recognize Cole, David, Justin, James and Matt, of course, for their efforts on Tuesday,” said co-coaches Nancy Rink and Art Wiper.
Results from Thursday’s meet saw Hammer (100 back, 1:02; 100 free, 52.9), D. Escobar (100 fly, 1:02), McCune (200 IM, 2:29) and the 200 medley relay group of Rice, Farnsworth, Murrell and K. Escobar (2:00) - in addition to those already mentioned - pull out victories over the Marauders.
Second places were swum by the 200 relay squadron of Hayden Giesbrecht, Kenny Fenley, K. Escobar and Chaplik (1:50), Land (500 free, 6:37), Mc- Cune (100 back, 1:09), Farnsworth (100 breast, 1:08; 100 free, 54.8), K. Escobar (200 IM, 2:38), the 200 IM foursome of K. Escobar, Hammer, McCune and Land (2:00), D. Escobar (50 free, 23.7) and Murrell (100 fly, 1:03).
Justin Murrell (50 free, 23.5) and Kevin Escobar (100 breast, 1:20) took thirds while Aaron Rice garnered the only fourth place for Stanwood with a 6:53 mark in the 500 freestyle.
“We had some awesome swims by our freshman swimmers who are really strong this year, and we have seen some first-year kids, who are athletes in other sports, become huge assets to our team. They are the depth that helps us win meets,” the coaches concluded with pride.
