Skyline swimmers come up shy to defending 4A state champions

Susie Miller hoped for a strong finish to the regular season Tuesday afternoon, and that’s just what she got from her Skyline swimmers. “We didn’t come out on top, but to lose by only 16 points to the team that won the (2007) state title is pretty good,” she said. The Spartans dropped only their second meet of the season, falling 93-77 to undefeated Garfield at Boehm Pool. The loss dropped Skyline’s dual meet record to 7-2 record in the KingCo 4A, behind Garfield and Newport.

By Kevin Endejan • October 23, 2008 1:09 am
Meghan O’Keefe was the second leg of Skyline’s winning 200 medley relay Tuesday afternoon.
Meghan O’Keefe was the second leg of Skyline’s winning 200 medley relay Tuesday afternoon.

Susie Miller hoped for a strong finish to the regular season Tuesday afternoon, and that’s just what she got from her Skyline swimmers.

“We didn’t come out on top, but to lose by only 16 points to the team that won the (2007) state title is pretty good,” she said.

The Spartans dropped only their second meet of the season, falling 93-77 to undefeated Garfield at Boehm Pool. The loss dropped Skyline’s dual meet record to 7-2 record in the KingCo 4A, behind Garfield and Newport.

“(It) was a very good year — can’t complain whatsoever,” Miller said.

The Spartans earned five more state qualifying times on Tuesday, with one relay and four individual marks.

The 200 medley relay of Andie Taylor, Meghan O’Keefe, Nina Zook and Kaitlyn Mark blazed to a first place finish and a state mark in a time of 1 minute, 56.25 seconds.

Taylor, the defending 200 and 500 freestyle champion in 3A, earned two more state qualifying marks. She finished first in the 200 freestyle in a time of 1:51.90 and first in the 100 breaststroke in 1:07.46. Taylor has qualified for the state meet, which runs Nov. 13-15, in all eight individual events. She will be allowed to compete in four total state events, and will likely participate in two individual events and two relays.

Nina Zook finished first in the 200 individual medley with a state mark of 2:15.60 and first in the 100 butterfly with another state mark of 1:01.43.

Diver Kelsey Kosenkranius earned Skyline’s other first-place finish, with a score of 187.45.

Two more swimmers, Adrian D’Alo and Delaney Boyer, qualified for the District 2 meet, finishing with times of 1:03.75 and 1:03.85, respectively.

Miller also highlighted the performance of the 200 medley and 200 free relay B teams, which fended off Garfield down the stretch for third place finishes. Members of the 200 medley included Brittni Battaglia, Jessie Dart, Hailey Theeuwen and Marissa Bennett. The 200 free consisted of Isabella Covelli, Ali Hartlein, Becky Nevin and Anne Luempert.

Up next for Skyline, and the rest of the KingCo 4A, is the league meet Oct. 30 and Nov. 1.