Freshmen help lead the way to state for Sumner girls swim team
On the heels of third-place finish in the team standings at the Class 4A West Central District 3 Swim and Dive Championships, a new guard is leading the Sumner High girls swim team.
Freshmen Emma Huynh, Marin Wilson and Olivia Castro have the Spartans confident as they prepare for the 4A state swimming and diving meet Friday (Nov. 11) and Saturday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
I think it’s not just us three. We have a lot of depth too as a team. It pushes us more.
Emma Huynh
“I think it’s not just us three. We have a lot of depth, too, as a team,” said Huynh, who will compete in the 50-yard freestyle (fifth at districts with a time of 25.47 seconds) and 100 free (third; 55.14). “It pushes us more.”
The three freshman are joining teammates Mikaela Miele and senior captains MichaelAnn Wilson — Marin’s sister — and McKenna Webster at the state meet.
No matter what the results are this weekend, future seasons and dual meets will likely be theirs for the taking with the talent of Sumner’s underclassmen.
“They have a lot of swimming ahead of them. It’s going to be exciting seeing what they can do in the next few years,” MichaelAnna Wilson said. “Half our relay teams are freshman, and I’m excited about what we can do in the 200 (freestyle relay). Especially since Emma and Olivia come in so fast with their hand-offs.”
The future is bright indeed.
They have a lot of swimming ahead of them. It’s going to be exciting seeing what they can do in the next few years.
MichaelAnn Wilson
“It will be really fun at state when we get the teams from the other districts,” said Miele, who will compete in the 200 freestyle (second at district; 1:56.58) as well as the 500 free (first, 5:15.59).
But let’s take a step back. The results do matter this weekend for the team. At least in one area in particular: the relays.
“I had to swim my hardest, and that helped me get to state,” Marin Wilson said.
Particularly the 200 free and 200 medley free relays.
“We (missed) second by three points,” coach Dana Powers-Clark said of Sumner coming in third behind second-place Kentridge (252) at the district meet. “We were one relay away, (had we) not DQ-ed in that 400 free (race), but that’s the way it goes. I’d rather have my girls be aggressive, swim tough and get after the relays.”
Sumner had the chance to qualify in the 400 free relay as well, but after being disqualified at districts, the focus has been on not letting these two chances go to waste.
Just look at them – they’re like little babies. Me and MichaelAnn joke about how young they look compared to everyone else, but we couldn’t be prouder of them.
McKenna Webster
Lessons have been learned, and now it’s about making a statement this weekend — one that could make a ripple into the future.
“Just look at them — they’re like little babies,” Webster joked like a big sister while looking at the freshman paddling on boards during warm-ups last week. “Me and MichaelAnn joke about how young they look compared to everyone else, but we couldn’t be prouder of them. They’re our freshmen.”
No matter where the Sumner team finishes at state this weekend, it will only be a starting point — a glimpse of what’s to come.
“And then we just keep on improving in the next years,” Miele said.
Kevin Manning: 253-256-7042, @herald_kmanning
This story was originally published November 10, 2016 at 11:25 AM with the headline "Freshmen help lead the way to state for Sumner girls swim team."