One Sequim girl is set to return to the 2A state swimming and diving championships on Nov. 13 and 14 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
Sophomore Sydnee Linnane qualified for state in the 100 yard backstroke for the second year in a row at districts. Linnane placed 10th in the 100 yard backstroke finals at 1:08.25 besting her preliminary time of 1:08.38. Last year, Linnane placed 19th in the 100 backstroke at state.
While Linnane may be the only Wolves swimmer to advance, a few other teammates came close at the West Central District 3 Swimming Championships on Nov. 7 at Hazen High School.
Senior Victoria Fitzpatrick, who qualified in seven events for districts like Linnane, was the only other Sequim swimmer to make the finals individually placing 12th in the 100 fly at 1:10.63.
Linnane was on the cusp of the finals in the 50 free taking 14th at 27.68 while Fitzpatrick swam the 100 free and took 18th at 1:02.21.
The two girls’ 200 medley team including Jessica Craig and Stephanie Grow also made the finals and placed 12th with a finals time of 2:11.34.
Craig also qualified for districts in the 200 IM and placed 21st at 2:45.54.
Two more girls, Joie Darminio and Jaycee Thompson-Porrazzo wild carded into two events. Darminio swam the 100 breaststroke at 1:25.25 and placed 21st and Thompson-Porrazzo placed 29th in the 100 backstroke at 1:20.04. The 400 free relay team of Craig, Thompson-Porrazzo, Annie Armstrong and Darminio placed 15th at 4:37.38 but the 200 free relay of Fitzpatrick, Thompson-Porrazzo, Grow and Madeline Patterson was disqualified.
As a team, Sequim placed 15th overall with six points while Port Angeles took second (214 points) and Port Townsend eighth (74 points).
Sequim coach Anita Benitez said they’ve brought a bigger group of girls each year to districts in her tenure and many of the girls who returned to districts this year had faster times coming into districts.
Thanks to donations, the girls’ practice facility, SARC’s pool will remain open for practices through the state meet.
