Aberdeen’s swim team impressed the home crowd on Senior Day with Anna Weber qualifying for state in the 200-yard medley and the 200-yard freestyle relay on Wednesday against Tumwater at the YMCA of Grays Harbor.
The Bobcats cruised to another team victory by the score of 128-55, but the day was highlighted by the two state-qualifying times.
Weber won the 200-yard medley with a time of 2:21.78, followed closely by teammate Melissa May who finished second, posting a time of 2:22.61.
Later in the meet, the 200 freestyle relay team achieved their season-long goal of going to state with a time of 1:47.78, about 11 seconds faster than the Tumwater team that finished second, earning Annika Eisele, Annetthe Orona, Anna Weber and Melissa May a spot in th state meet.
Eisele said the team had been looking to shave time off in that event all season and shared a moment before the race to offer some last-minute words of encouragement.
“We’ve been chipping away at that time for so long. We wanted to make this a memorable night and I think we did that,” she said. “In the huddle we’re always encouraging. It’s probably a little bit of singing songs and hyping each other up. We try to have fun because swimming is nothing without having fun.”
The relay team had fun in the pool, but it was a day of mixed emotions for the seven seniors on the team as they competed at their last home regular-season meet of their outstanding prep careers.
Though the Bobcats will host the district meet at the YMCA of Grays Harbor, the Senior Day ceremony held toward the end of Wednesday’s meet had many seniors emotional.
Senior Trudy Butcher said she didn’t fully process that her high school career is reaching its end until the start of the first event and was still reflecting on her time as a Bobcat after the meet.
“I’m feeling a little worked up because I’m pretty sad about leaving everyone. I’m pretty sad about leaving everyone because I’ve been swimming in this pool since I was three years old,” she said. “For it to be one of my last meets here is really weird and kind of sad.”
Aberdeen’s graduating class also has Aberdeen head coach Jan Simons feeling confident about the quickly-approaching postseason. Simons noted that her teams have found success at districts in years past relying more on depth and less on wins in specific races.
She said that this year’s team, powered by a strong senior class, should be able to get pick up some wins to help bolster the team score.
“From the time (the senior class) came on as freshmen, it was like a wave hit our team.” she said. “Several of those girls will be four-year state competitors. They’ve just added a lot of firepower.”
The Bobcats have another chance to show off their firepower on Tuesday with a meet at Timberline at 3:30 p.m.
With two meets left before the sub district meet on Oct. 30 at River Ridge High School, Simons expect to see a few more district and state-qualifying times.
Simons said the team’s success over the past few years comes down to the hard work that was on display against Tumwater as the team added to the long list of state-qualifying events.
“Training with girls that have positive attitudes and work hard has helped. We don’t have complainers. When the work out is hard they take it as a challenge and they give their all in practice,” she said. “The way they approach their practice and competition filters down through the team. I don’t have a hard job at all.”
PREP VOLLEYBALL
Hoquiam 3, Morton-White Pass 1
The Grizzlies dropped the first set and roared back to win the next three in a 3-1 home win over Morton-White Pass on Wednesday.
Hoquiam (2-8, 0-3 Evergreen 1A) snapped a five-game losing steak with the win and benefited from good passing from Maggie Mazariegos, who had 28 assists and 12 digs.
The passing helped Hoquiam pick up 34 kills with Carsyn Munger, leading the team with 11.
Hoquiam head coach Heather Bozich said she was pleased with how her team responded after falling behind after the first game.
“Everyone played a really solid match and I’m really proud of the girls for turning things around after a tough first set,” she said. “We cleaned up our mistakes, took advantage of free balls and played aggressively at the net.”
Hoquiam will get back to its league schedule with a 7 p.m. home matchup against Montesano on Thursday.
Hoquiam 20 26 25 25 – 3
Morton-White Pass 25 24 16 18 – 1
Top Players: Hoquiam – Munger (11 kills, 4 blocks); Mazariegos (28 assists, 12 digs); Hailey Lawerence (20 digs)
GIRLS PREP SOCCER
Ocosta 1, Ilwaco 0
The Ocosta Wildcats got a second-half goal from leading-scorer Katelynn Denny to earn a 1-0 win over Ilwaco on Wednesday at Ilwaco High School.
Playing at Ilwaco for the first time in program history, Ocosta (7-5-1, 4-2 Pacific 2B) managed through a water-logged pitch to come away with a victory after Denny fought for a pass from Liv Bartley and lofted a 20-yard shot into the back of the net in the 49th minute.
Ocosta’s backline once again played stellar defense. Led by Maia Soderlund, whom Wildcats head coach Mike King said “was again a stone wall,” Ocosta held Ilwaco to just three shots in the game, with goalkeeper Devyn Martin having to make just one save on a slow-roller. The shutout was Martin’s fifth of the season.
“The conditions were horrendous, but the girls played another great game, working well together despite playing in six-inch deep pools of water,” King said.
Ocosta hosts Life Christian at 6 p.m. on Monday.
Ocosta 0 1 — 1
Ilwaco 0 0 — 0
Top Players: Ocosta — Denny (G, 49th minute); Bartley (A)
— Ryan Sparks, Grays Harbor News Group
BOYS PREP GOLF
Montesano 169, Kalama 202
Montesano got a low round from medalist of the match Nate Johnson to pick up a 169-202 win over Kalama on Wednesday at Oaksridge Golf Course.
Johnson carded a 36 for the lowest score over the 9-hole round.
Montesano (169) — Nate Johnson 36, Ben Wills 42, Ben Royer 42, Kody Lalonde 49, Dylan Schoch 49, Josh Wills 51
Kalama (202) — Matt Boeller 46, Todd Tabor 46, Jackson Hull 55, Matt Rinard 56, Chase Staup 56, Joey Reid 57