The Wolves lost the meet, but have a better chance than their rivals of keeping their practice space.
Sequim’s friendly rivals, the Port Angeles Roughriders, spoiled the Wolves’ perfect season on Oct. 9, topping the younger Wolves 106-58.
With about 40 bodies in the pool, P.A. simply overwhelmed Sequim, winning all but two events.
Rachel Hardy won in the 50 free (27.08) and 100 free (1:01.72) swims, while teammates Gianna Vennetti (100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke) and Sarah Keltonic (200 individual medley) each picked up second-place finishes.
The big P.A. win wasn’t a shock to Sequim coach Linda Bingler, who saw her team fall to 3-1 in league and 4-1 overall.
"Even when we were great, we still couldn’t beat P.A.," she said. (During Sequim All-American Summer Jackson’s senior season, Sequim managed only to get within about 40 points, and Sequim is 0-10 against P.A. since their inaugural 1998 season.)
With Port Angeles’ William Shore Memorial pool slated to close at the end of the year, the P.A. High School girls swim team seemed just fine at Sequim’s home, the Sequim Aquatic Recreation Center.
"We’re just trying to keep up," Bingler said during the meet.
Several Wolves swimmers recorded personal best times, including: Karlee Johnston, a 12-second improvement in the 200 free; Shelby Heyer in the 200 free by eight seconds; and Billie-Jane Stone in the 100 butterfly by six seconds.
Rose Hawkins, a Sequim junior varsity diver, should be able to compete in varsity events soon, Bingler noted.
The Wolves were scheduled to take on 3A powerhouse Bainbridge (fourth at state 3A meet last year) on Oct. 14 – results were unavailable at press time. Sequim is at Olympic Oct. 16 and hosts North Kitsap on Oct. 23, their final regularly scheduled meet.
The district meet is Nov. 7-8.
Sequim girls swimming vs. P.A. – through the years
2008 – Port Angeles 106, Sequim 58
2007 – Port Angeles 113, at Sequim 66
2006 – Port Angeles 102, Sequim 81
2002 – Port Angeles 112, Sequim 74
2001 – Port Angeles 122, Sequim 64
2000 – Port Angeles 133, Sequim 53
1999 – Port Angeles 143, Sequim 42
Port Angeles 144, Sequim 42
1998 – Port Angeles 141, Sequim 40*
Port Angeles def. Sequim
– no score available
(* – 1998 was Sequim’s first year with a girls swim program)
