Aberdeen swim and dive team competes at 2A/1A State Championships

Bobcats led by Hood and Heikkila with two-10 state placements

By Ryan Sparks • November 13, 2023 12:15 am
SUBMITTED PHOTO Aberdeen junior Mija Hood placed sixth in the 100-yard backstroke on Saturday at the 2A/1A State Championships at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
SUBMITTED PHOTO Aberdeen junior Mija Hood placed sixth in the 100-yard backstroke on Saturday at the 2A/1A State Championships at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Led by top-1o finishes by Mija Hood and Saylor Heikkila, the Aberdeen Bobcats paced 23rd as a team at the 2A/1A State Championships Thursday through Saturday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Hood placed sixth in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:03.46 on Saturday as the top state-placer for the Bobcats. The junior also placed 11th with a time of 1:06.48 in the 100 butterfly, reaching the second day of competition in both her individual events.

Hood’s backstroke and butterfly times were both personal records.

Heikkila placed 10th overall in the 1-meter diving competition on Thursday with a final-round score of 211.85 while teammate Zahrya Graham placed 19th with 79.75 points.

Aberdeen’s 400-freestyle relay team of Keara Burns, Harnoor Jandu, Isabelle Melville and Hood just squeaked into the finals, taking the last qualifying spot by placing 16th overall with a time of 4:13.14.

The Bobcats’ 200-yard medley relay team and 200-freestyle relay team placed 19th and 17th, respectively, to just miss the second day of competition.

Aberdeen placed 23rd overall with 28 points.

Sammamish won the competition with 343 points.

Pullman (200 points) placed second with North Kitsap (159) taking third.

Full meet results can be viewed at wiaa.com.

Aberdeen Results

1-meter diving: 10, Saylor Heikkila, 211.85. 19, Zahrya Graham, 79.75.

200-yard medley relay – 19, Aberdeen (Emma Mullins, Wendy Neil, Arianna Alavez, Keara Burns), 2:09.22

100 butterfly: 11, Mija Hood, 1:06.48.

200 freestyle relay: 17, Aberdeen (Burns, Harnoor Jandu, Ava Benn, Hood), 1:52.98.

100 backstroke: 6, Hood, 1:03.46.

400 freestyle relay: 16, Aberdeen (Burns, Jandu, Isabelle Melville, Hood), 4:13.14.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Aberdeen swimmers (from left) Mija Hood, Emma Mullins, Ava Benn, Keara Burns, Wendy Neil, Harnoor Jandu, Isabella Melville and Arianna Alavez competed at the 2A/1A State Championship meet Thursday through Saturday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Aberdeen swimmers (from left) Mija Hood, Emma Mullins, Ava Benn, Keara Burns, Wendy Neil, Harnoor Jandu, Isabella Melville and Arianna Alavez competed at the 2A/1A State Championship meet Thursday through Saturday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Aberdeen divers Saylor Heikkila, left, and Zahrya Graham placed 10th and 19th, respectively, at the 2A/1A State Championship meet on Thursday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

SUBMITTED PHOTO Aberdeen divers Saylor Heikkila, left, and Zahrya Graham placed 10th and 19th, respectively, at the 2A/1A State Championship meet on Thursday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.