Spartans post 43 season-best times

Using seven first places, an equal amount of seconds and a plethora of thirds, fourths and fifths, the Stanwood Spartan boys’ swim squad swamped the visiting Lake Stevens Vikings 94-86 in WesCo 4A North pool action last Tuesday. That depth wasn’t as present Friday afternoon, however, as the undefeated, league-leading Tomahawks from Marysville-Pilchuck prevailed 101-69.

Interestingly, the 200- medley relay team – made up of different individuals each time – broke the all-time record twice last week. The first group of Tim Hammer, Justin Murrell, Matt Roe and David Escobar established a new standard at 1:46.23. Three days later, at Marysville, sophomore Cole Farnsworth joined the latter trio to re-establish that mark at 1:46.06.

Other records were broken by the 400 free relay quartet of Tyler Swanson, Murrell, Hammer and Roe (3:25) and the 200 free relay foursome of Farnsworth, Hammer, Escobar and Roe (1:35). The former time also qualified the 400 squad for the state meet.

Jacob Land swam well enough in the 100 backstroke (1:09) to qualify for district.

Junior Hayden Giesbrecht dropped five seconds off his career-best time in the 100 breaststroke in a district-qualifying mark of (1:12) and nine seconds from his best 200 individual medley time.

Others who made tremendous strides in their races – in which 43 best times were recorded – were Kenny Fenley (26 seconds dropped in the 500 freestyle), Austin Wehr (9 seconds better in the 200 free) and Jonah Williams, who took off 10 seconds in the 100 freestyle.

“It was a very fast meet and the boys were out to win,” said co-head coach Nancy Rink. “It was raceto

race and it was fun to see the boys ‘race’ instead of just swim through their events. It was especially nice to beat Lake Stevens, especially after they had built a 10-point lead before the meet even started, since they had two divers (Stanwood does not have any divers).”

In the Marysville meet, several swimmers who performed especially well above their previous season bests were Shawn Kelly, who has dropped his 50 free mark in every successive meet this season, Tanner Nieman who took 18 seconds off his 100 breast time, Aaron Sandquist, who dropped 10 seconds in his 100 breaststroke and Josh Schuh and Andrew Stahl, who each shaved six seconds off their 100 backstroke times.

Results for the Lake Stevens meet:

• 200 medley relay: 2nd: Murrell, Roe, Hammer, D. Escobar (1:46).

• 200 freestyle: 1st: Hammer (1:53); 2nd: Murrell (1:55).

• 200 IM: 1st: Roe (2:03); 2nd: Farnsworth (2:14); 4th: H. Giesbrecht (2:29).

• 50 free: 2nd: D. Escobar (23.9); 3rd: Swanson (24.8).

• 100 butterfly: 2nd: Hammer (57.8); 4th: D. Escobar (1:01); 5th: Kevin Escobar (1:08).

• 100 free: 2nd: Swanson (52.4); 5th: Aaron Rice (1:02).

• 500 free: 1st: Roe (4:51); 3rd: Land (6:16); 5th: Fenley (6:37).

• 200 free relay: 1st: James McCune, Farnsworth, Swanson, D. Escobar (1:38); 3rd: Casey O’Heren, Jacob Giesbrecht, Cameron Chaplik, K. Escobar (1:50).

• 100 backstroke: 1st: Murrell (57.9); 4th: Land (1:11); 5th: K. Escobar (1:13).

• 100 breaststroke: 1st: Farnsworth (1:07.2); 2nd: McCune (1:07.3); 4th: H. Giesbrecht (1:12).

• 400 freestyle relay: 1st: Murrell, Swanson, Roe, Hammer (3:25).

Placings at Marysville for Stanwood swimmers:

• 200 medley relay: 2nd: Murrell, Farnsworth, Roe, D. Escobar (1:46).

• 200 free: 1st: Roe (1:50); 5th: McCune (2:15).

• 200 IM: 2nd: Hammer (2:05); 4th: Farnsworth (2:14).

• 50 free: 1st: D. Escobar (24.1); 5th: Chaplik (27.1).

• 100 fly: 1st: Hammer (57.9); 4th: Murrell (1:02).

• 100 free: 1st: D. Escobar (53.1); 5th: Chaplik (1:01).

• 500 free: 1st: Roe (5:05); 5th: Rice (6:52).

• 200 free relay: 1st: Farnsworth, Hammer, D. Escobar, Roe (1:35).

• 100 back: Murrell (59.2); 5th: Land (1:09).

• 100 breast: 2nd: Farnsworth (1:08); 4th: McCune (1:10).

• 400 free relay: 2nd: Land, McCune, Hammer, Murrell (3:46).

Co-coach Art Wiper summarized his team’s accomplishments thus far.

“I believe we are starting to reach many of our goals at the right time. If we can stay healthy for the next four weeks of the season, it will be very exciting and should end with a very fine season.”