Girls swimming: SHS crew posts district qualifying times in losses

By Michael Dashiell • October 11, 2023 1:30 am
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell Ava Shinkle of Sequim competes in the 100 butterfly against Port Angeles in an Olympic League meet on Oct. 4. Shinkle placed second in the event in 1:11.05.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell Ava Shinkle of Sequim competes in the 100 butterfly against Port Angeles in an Olympic League meet on Oct. 4. Shinkle placed second in the event in 1:11.05.

Sequim’s swim squad ran into a pool full of strong league swimmers, notching some strong individual efforts in a pair of home losses to Port Angeles (Oct. 4) and North Kitsap (Oct. 6).

Against NK’s Vikings, Sequim’s Ava Shinkle earned a pair of individual wins (200 individual medley, 100 free) and Melia Nelson added another in the 200 free, but the Vikings placed first in the eight other events.

Both of Shinkle’s times (200 IM, 2:32.71; 100 free, 1:01.74) are district meet qualifiers, as was Nelson’s 2:22.19 mark in the 200 free. Nelson also earned a district time in the 100 butterfly, placing second in 1:16.79.

Natalie Cross took second in the 500 free in 6:25.82, another district qualifying time.

The loss dropped Sequim’s season record to 3-2.

Riders prevail in SHS pool

A deep and talented Port Angeles crew handed Sequim its first team loss of the season, racing to wins in nine of the 10 events for a 124-39 win at the YMCA of Sequim on Oct. 4.

Yau Fu (50 free, 100 butterfly) and Harper Maguire (100 free, 100 backstroke) won two events each for the Roughriders. Fu’s 100 fly time is a 2A state automatic time.

SHS’s Cross won the 500 free in 6:23.06. Shinkle was second in the 50 free (27.65) and 100 butterfly (1:11.05). Nelson was third in the 100 butterfly with a 1:14.88 time.

Looking ahead

Sequim is at Bainbridge on Oct. 11 and at Olympic (Silverdale) on Oct. 20.

The Wolves attend the Last Chance Meet in Port Angeles on Oct. 25.

Qualifying swimmers compete at the West Central District 1A/2A bi-district meet scheduled for Nov. 3-4 at Mercer Island.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Natalie Cross races to a first place finish in the 500 free against Port Angeles on Oct. 5. Cross finished in 6:23.06.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Natalie Cross races to a first place finish in the 500 free against Port Angeles on Oct. 5. Cross finished in 6:23.06.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Natalie Cross races to a first place finish in the 500 free against Port Angeles on Oct. 5. Cross finished in 6:23.06.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Natalie Cross races to a first place finish in the 500 free against Port Angeles on Oct. 5. Cross finished in 6:23.06.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Natalie Cross competes in the 100 backstroke as the Wolves take on Port Angeles on Oct. 5. Cross finished fourth in the event, in 1:19.42.

Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim’s Natalie Cross competes in the 100 backstroke as the Wolves take on Port Angeles on Oct. 5. Cross finished fourth in the event, in 1:19.42.