Marysville swimmers, divers compete at state

Marysville-Pilchuck junior diver Aryn Hoyt and senior Cherish Broker, accompanied by Tomahawk sophomore Melody Coleman and Marysville Getchell sophomore Rachel Hartmeyer, traveled to the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way for the two-day 3A and 4A Swim and Dive State championships on Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12.

By Jake McNeal • November 16, 2011 2:05 pm
Marysville Getchell sophomore Rachel Hartmeyer swims in the 3A and 4A State Swim and Dive Championships
Marysville Getchell sophomore Rachel Hartmeyer swims in the 3A and 4A State Swim and Dive Championships

MARYSVILLE — Marysville-Pilchuck junior diver Aryn Hoyt and senior Cherish Broker, accompanied by Tomahawk sophomore Melody Coleman and Marysville Getchell sophomore Rachel Hartmeyer, traveled to the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way for the two-day 3A and 4A Swim and Dive State championships on Friday, Nov. 11, and Saturday, Nov. 12.

“State is a very intense environment,” M-P and MG coach Jaci LeGore Hodgins said. “The more they can relax, the better. Stay calm, take one dive, one event at a time — it’s important that you’re celebrating that you’re there. We do a lot of mental training with these kids, and how far they’ve come from August to now is rewarding because of how strong they are — we call it a championship mindset. We wanted them to develop theirs throughout the year.”

Hoyt and Broker took 20th (164.95 points) and 23rd (102.05), respectively, in the preliminary 4A dive contest and did not qualify for the finals the next day.

“Cherish only dove in her freshman and sophomore years,” LeGore Hodgins said of Broker, who took her junior year off from swimming. “For her to come back as a senior and take second in the district and 23rd at state was amazing. She can go into the Mighty Marlins (Marysville’s local club team that trains in the M-PHS pool) feeling great.”

Coleman placed 18th in the 4A 200-yard individual medley at 2:18.66 and took 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke preliminaries at 1:09.17 before improving to ninth in the state breaststroke final at 1:08.88 the next day.

“Melody’s overall time actually beat two people who were in the A final,” LeGore Hodgins said. “We knew her time was worthy of being in the A final. It’s a great jump-off for next year.”

Hartmeyer placed 20th in the 3A 200-yard individual medley preliminaries at 2:20.02, took 12th at 5:29.34 in the 500-yard freestyle on Friday and 15th in the final at 5:29.14 on Saturday.

“Rachel swam her best time on Friday, then best time on Saturday,” LeGore Hodgins said of Hartmeyer’s two-day efforts. “That’s what your goal is — get better the next day.”