Originally published Thursday, September 30, 2010 at 9:43 PM

Skyline wins battle of swimming titanics

The defending Class 4A state champion Spartans edged Mercer Island, last year's 3A champ, 95-91 in a battle of girls swimming powerhouses.

By Ron Newberry

Special to The Seattle Times

PREV of NEXT

MARK HARRISON / THE SEATTLE TIMES

Mercer Island's Grace Wold swims to victory in the 200-yard individual medley against Skyline Thursday. Skyline edged M.I., 95-91.

Prep sports gear

Find your school. Custom t-shirts, hoodies
and more. Shop now!
Powered by Prep Sportswear

MERCER ISLAND — Skyline swim coach Susan Simpkins had a sinking feeling.

When the final event of the day had finished, after every swimmer in the 400-yard freestyle relay had touched the wall, Simpkins figured the Spartans had come up short in their dual meet with Mercer Island at Mary Wayte Pool.

But when the final score was announced, shrieks of delight from Skyline swimmers confirmed that Simpkins' calculations were wrong.

Skyline defeated Mercer Island 95-91 Thursday in an intense, yet friendly meet between defending Class 4A and 3A state champions. Disqualifications were a factor. Two Mercer Island relays and one Skyline relay were DQ'd.

"We knew it was going to be close," a dazed Simpkins said. "We didn't realize it was going to be that close."

Skyline, which hasn't lost a dual meet since 2008, got multiple victories from Katie Kinnear, Meghan O'Keefe and Stephanie Munoz to finish ever so slightly ahead.

The Islanders were left similarly in suspense until the score was announced.

"We had no idea," said Lauren Poli, who edged Maria Volodkevich in the 100 breaststroke. "Everyone was like freaking out. I was really impressed with how we did, though."

Mercer Island coach Chauntelle Johnson said the idea of a dual meet between the titanic programs was born during a conversation with Skyline assistant Courtney Bede during a preseason KingCo coaches meeting.

"It was a great meet," Johnson said. "We had so many of our kids step up and swim well. We swam with the 4A state champs to the end. You can't complain about that."

Both teams are strong state-championship contenders again.

"This was too much fun," Simpkins said.

Kinnear, a transfer from Eastlake, won the 100 free (52:02 seconds) and 100 backstroke (57:39) and was a part of the Spartans' winning 200 medley relay (1:51.47).

Sophomore Grace Wold won the 200 individual medley (2:09.69) and 100 butterfly (57.84) for the Islanders.

E-mail article Print Share

More High School Sports

NEW - 8:27 PM
All-league boys basketball teams

NEW - 8:31 PM
All-league girls basketball teams

All-league girls basketball teams

NEW - 8:21 PM
Stars of the week

Gonzaga Prep wins with defense, 61-41 | 4A Boys

More High School Sports headlines...