MARYSVILLE — The Marysville-Pilchuck and Marysville Getchell girls swimming teams hosted the 3A District 1 Swim and Dive Finals on Saturday, Nov. 3, and several M-P swimmers finished with state qualifying times.
Marysville hosted 11 teams at their pool, but their M-P crew finished with some of the top spots and a team score of 234, while MG finished with a team score of 153.
“It was really fun to host and swim in our own pond,” said head coach Jaci Legore Hodgins. “This was the best year for us with prelims, we did so well and we knew we could swim even better than that during finals. For some of our swimmers it was their grand finale for the year, and it was a great grand finale. And for those who made it to state, they swam even faster than in prelims. It was everything you could want in a district championship.”
M-P’s Melody Coleman finished as district champion in the 200-yard individual medley with a final time of 2:13.3. She also won the 100-yard breast stroke with a final time of 1:08.73.
M-P’s Hannah Taylor took the district championship in the 100-yard butterfly with a final time of 56.71, and she also won the 100-yard backstroke event with a time of 57.84.
Rachel Hartmeyer, of MG, was second in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle and also qualified for state.
“She broke two school records and set new ones,” said Legore Hodgins.
Relay swimmers finished with fast times as the 200-yard medley relay team of Coleman, Madison Rossnagle, Taylor and Rebekah Pusateri with a time of 1:55.31. The same relay team took second place in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a final time of 1:44.36. Rossnagle is also swimming the 100-yard breaststroke at state.
MG’s Courtney Moss took the top spot in the dive finals and finished with a final of 340, while M-P’s Aryn Hoyt finished with a score of 287.15, both qualifying for state.
“[Moss] had an epic districts,” said Legore Hodgins. “She was just phenomenal. She scored a 340, which is one of the best scores out of districts going into state.”
Both teams are gearing up for the state meet, keeping their goals in mind.
“Hannah’s goal is to be a state champ,” said Legore Hodgins. “Melody and Courtney have a goal to place as high as they can. Melody should definitely be one of the top in the breaststroke and she has it in her to do well in the IM. Rachel’s goal is to swim the fastest 500 and 200 freestyle and beat the times she had at state and place higher than she did last year. Courtney did not go to state last year because she was injured and she has a very good shot of being in the top 12. Aryn wasn’t at state last year, so diving there is really big for her. And Madison is only a freshman, but we want her to swim in the top 16 so she can make it to the second day. That could gain us quite a few points.”
Despite their high chances for state success, Legore Hodgins is proud of her team.
“I’m just excited to watch these girls swim and do their best. They are a fun team, and I have a great feeling about them.”
Both Marysville-Pilchuck and Marysville Getchell swimmers and divers are set to compete at the WIAA State Swimming and Diving Meet on Nov. 9 and if they place in the top 16 in their event, they advance to compete on Nov. 10 at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way.
