Kentridge High junior Chase Bublitz shouldn’t have much trouble deciding which individual swimming events to compete in next year at the state meet.
He’s already captured four titles in four events, so his choices will be limited.
After winning titles in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly last year, the junior sprinter captured titles in the 100 and 200 freestyle on Saturday night at the Class 4A state swimming and diving championships at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
“I’m definitely more proud of this year,” Bublitz said. “I got closer to the times I was hoping to go for. I feel like I had more clean races this year than last year.”
Bublitz opened with an easy victory in the 200, finishing with a time of 1 minute, 39.51 seconds (automatic All-American). He came back in the 100 (45.21, automatic All-American) to edge Stadium senior Andrew Lackman (46.74).
“I was really pumped up for that one,” said Bublitz, who bested his fastest time by 0.3 seconds. “The 200 set the momentum for me.”
So which event is next on his radar? Only time will tell.
“One day it will come to me,” he said with a laugh.
While the Stadium Tigers fell short in their quest to repeat as state champions in the team standings — coming up short to champion Kamiak, 207-170 — several swimmers had solid days.
Senior Logan Rysemus (1:50.51, automatic All-American) successfully defended his individual title in the 200 IM, fending off Kamiak’s John Stupey (1:52.56, All-American consideration).
“I really wanted to hold my title,” said Rysemus, who also finished second in the 100 butterfly. “I’m really happy that I did, because it was probably one of my biggest goals coming in.”
The Stadium relay team took home a state title in the 200 medley relay (1:36.71), and tied Kamiak for first (3:13.03) in a thrilling finish to close out the meet in the 400 freestyle relay.
After finishing third in the 200 IM after holding the top time in the preliminaries, Gig Harbor senior Evan Indahl fell behind early, but came back in the final 100 yards to beat Stupey in the 500 free and bring home the first boys title to Gig Harbor in the event since 2000.
“You don’t win it in the first 100, you win it in the last 100,” said Indahl, who will swim at the University of Utah next year. “Once I saw Stupey in the corner of my eye, I said to myself, ‘I’m taking this.’”
Curtis junior Brian Woodbury won a state title in the 100 backstroke, clocking a 49.99 (automatic All-American). Although his time was a bit slower than his personal best, he was happy.
“Happiest I’ve ever been not getting a best time,” he said.
And in yet another stunning performance, Eastlake High phenom Edward Kim clocked a 20.11 (automatic All-American), the second-fastest in state meet history, to win the 50 free, while Stadium’s Lackman finished second (21.20). Gig Harbor’s Erik Neilsen was fourth (21.93). Kim also won the 100 butterfly (48.00, automatic All-American).
In Class 2A, the Steilacoom Sentinels capped off a record-breaking season with a fourth-place finish in the team standings with 179 points. Archbishop Murphy (267) won the 2A title, snapping a streak of four straight titles by Sehome, which finished second with 237 points.
It’s the best finish in Steilacoom school history for a boys swim team, according to coach Kathy Casey.
“This is huge,” Casey said.
Leading the way for the Sentinels was junior Benjamin Scott, who took home individual state titles in the 100 backstroke (51.46, automatic All-American) and the 100 freestyle (48.25) — while swimming with a minor cold.
“There was plenty of adrenaline pumping,” Scott said. “It was great to be out there with my teammates.”
Scott’s time in the 100 freestyle was a personal best (breaking his own school record), and his time in the 100 backstroke was two-tenths of a second off his best time.
Ryan Shipes chipped in with a third-place finish in diving (325.60 points).
Washington High sophomore Jaycob Davies picked up a pair of fourth-place finishes in the 200 (1:48.40) and the 500 free (4:59.59).
In Class 3A, Peninsula’s Caleb Riggs was second with a time of 58.08 (All-American consideration) in the 100 breast.
Auburn Mountainview’s Cameron Lindsay (1:51.28, automatic All-American) finished third in the 200 IM and third in the 100 backstroke (50.93, All-American consideration).
Peninsula’s Paul Friedman was third in diving (350.15 points).
Lakeside of Seattle (274 points) edged Mercer Island (271) in the team standings to win its second straight 3A title.
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