State champion Billy Oates returns to Gig Harbor swim team

At the beginning of this year, Coach Mike Kelly of the Gig Harbor swim team did not expect sophomore Billy Oates to return.

He had expected him to solely swim club and that left the team with what they expected to be a rebuilding year. All that changed when Oates recently returned to the team after not initially showing up for the first portion of the season. Oates had won the Class 3A 50-yard freestyle state title last year and his return was a welcome one for the Tides.

“He really enjoyed his experience from last year’s high school season and was missing being part of the team,” Kelly said. “As with most club swimmers, there are a lot of big meets in December and then after that there is a bit of space in between the next series of big important meets. He found that he wanted to return and we welcomed him back.”

That was a sentiment echoed by Oates who was initially unsure about his plans.

“To be honest, I wasn’t totally sure what I was going to do but it just kind of fit into the schedule,” Oates said. “I decided to come back because I wasn’t going to have any other big meets for club swim for the duration of high school. I love the community on my high school team so I decided to just go back.”

This move was a rare occurrence for Kelly and the team as a whole.

“For the Tides this is the first time that someone has joined already a couple meets into the season so it is new for me and the rest of the team as well,” Kelly said. “We’re just thankful and appreciate him giving us a consideration to come on out.”

What does his return mean for the team? It provides a boost to many of the relays that the team had been looking to fill in his absence.

“He is a very talented athlete and provides us with a lot more potential in terms of relays and individual scoring,” Kelly said. “His hard work ethic is a good example for his peers and he is really well received by his teammates. They were pretty excited to have him back on board with the Tides again. I see that people are feeling a little more optimistic about what we can achieve this season as we get closer to the postseason.”

Early signs are good for the team after they went to the Swimvitational on Saturday where Oates with teammates Carson Eliasen, Drew Huston and Michael Derouin set a school record in the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 1:37.78.

“I was glad to be with the team when we broke a school record,” Oates said.

Oates would also go on to win the 50 free and qualify for state with a time of 21.13. He even tried out some events that were outside his wheelhouse.

“I surprised myself on Saturday with the 100 back,” Oates said. “I just wasn’t expecting to go as fast as I did. I didn’t expect to drop as much time as I did.”

Oates finished with a 50.24 which in addition to being a State qualifying time also was a NISCA All-American Consideration time and another new Gig Harbor High School record.

These different events are ones coach Kelly thinks he can continue to succeed in even as he grows in his previously strong events as well.

“He has got a lot of potential. He is an eager learner and obviously a little more mature with his training in the off-season,” Kelly said. “I feel he is capable of exploring other events. Perhaps the ones that he swam last year aren’t going to be the ones that he is going to do this year. But more than likely he will be still, when we get to state, looking at doing the 50 free.”

As the reigning state champion in the 50-yard freestyle, Oates has some high aspirations for both himself and his team that he hopes will come to fruition.

“I definitely would like to see a lot of my teammates make districts and do well as a team at districts. Hopefully move on to state with more swimmers this year,” Oates said.

This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 6:00 AM.