Sequim hopes for wildcard berth for relay squads
Sequim Gazette staff
After a long season full of endless laps, kick-turns and chlorine, Sequim’s swimmers and divers are aiming for one last poolside hurrah.
Two of Sequim’s divers — junior Connor Christianson and senior Ezra Perkins — are headed to the 2A state finals in Federal Way Feb. 18-19. After securing their berths a week before, they reaffirmed their state status by finishing 3-4 at the district meet last week in Renton. Teammates Austin Clement and Cameron Harrison, both sophomores, placed sixth and ninth, respectively, at the district meet and, along with Sequim’s swimmers, await wildcard berths to state this week.
“It was really fun to see three Sequim divers up on the awards podium (for top eight finishes),” Sequim diving coach Susan Craig said. “All the divers performed really well, and had a really good overall meet.”
A bevy of Sequim swimmers await announcements of wildcard berths that help fill out the 2A tournament, also in Federal Way this weekend, after placing three relay teams in the top 10 at districts and seeing junior Noe Calderon make the finals in the 100 breaststroke.
Calderon, who qualified for state last season in the 100 breaststroke and placed 16th overall, took sixth at districts — two spots shy of an automatic state berth.
He joined teammates Kris Petersen, Tom Moores and Drew Rickerson in shedding a second off their 200 medley relay preliminary time to place eighth at districts.
Calderon, Moores and Rickerson teamed with Matt Cays to place seventh in the 200 free relay while the 400 relay team of Petersen, Rickerson, Doug Dunbar and Kiano Stoppani placed 10th overall.
“We hope one or more of the relays and Noe in the 100 breaststroke will be wild-carded into State,” Sequim swim coach Linda Moats said. “If not, we are very proud of all of the athletes that represented Sequim in swimming and diving this season. It was great fun!”
Sequim placed eighth out of 15 teams at districts. The Wolves were without sophomore Taylor Bonneau, who missed the meet because of an illness.
