South Puget Sound League 3A record sets up

showdown with Peninsula

Enumclaw High boys swimming coach Ann Bettencourt was happy with the way the Hornets raced against Lakes Thursday in South Puget Sound League 3A action, but admitted it was a hard loss to swallow.

The Lancers topped the Hornets 92-91, a narrow one-point margin that has set up an SPSL 3A showdown for league dominance. The Hornets were scheduled to host Peninsula Tuesday (results were not available at press time) but a win in that contest would not only be an upset but would put the Hornets in a three-way tie for the league’s top spot with Lakes and the Seahawks. The Hornets are also scheduled to host Timberline at 3:30 p.m. Thursday for a nonleague contest and Bonney Lake Tuesday, also at 3:30 p.m.

The loss to the Lancers went down easier thanks to a number of finishes that were district-qualifying times.

The 200-yard medley relay continued to race at district-qualifying level, posting a first-place 1-minute, 50.72-second time, not as fast as its 1:49.79 in the Hornets’ 100-85 win over Sumner Jan. 6, but consistently under the district-qualifying time of 2:02.00 and inching closer to state-qualifying time of 1:46.7.

Gabe Sales finished second for the Hornets in the 200 freestyle with a 2:11.10 time.

Josh Petersen raced to a district-qualifying time of 2:19.55 with a second-place finish in the 200 individual medley. Petersen also earned a district time in the 100 butterfly with a second-place 1:01.34 finish.

Greg Rufener won the 50 freestyle in 22.77, recording his second state-qualifying time for the week. His other came with a 57.37 100 backstroke time in the Hornets’ win over Sumner. Thursday, Rufener also qualified for district in the 500 freestyle with a second-place 5:29.14 finish.

Garrett Hall placed second in diving. He also finished second during the Sumner meet.

Pierce Beigh sprinted to second place and a district time in the 100 freestyle with a 54.39 finish. Beigh also charted a district time with a 1:04.39 win in the 100 backstroke.

The Hornets’ 100 freestyle relay finished second in 1:46.19.

Shane Jackson won the 100 breaststroke with a district-qualifying time of 1:10.10.

Against Sumner, one of the highlights of the afternoon was Hornet swimmer Sam Horn’s opening of the meet playing the National Anthem on the bagpipes.

He set the tone for the Hornets, as they continued to drop time.

Zach Petersen won the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:11.44.

Beigh was second in the 200 IM with a district time of 2:22.61. He was also second in the 100 backstroke with a district time of 1:03.62.

Josh Petersen was second in the 50 freestyle with a 24.78, just missing the district time of 24.70. He was also second in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:02.40. District time is 1:02.30.

In addition to posting his state 100 backstroke time, Rufener won the 100 freestyle with a 51.90. State time is 50.40.

Tim Holston was third in the 500 freestyle in 6:19.81.

Another highlight was the 200 freestyle relay’s second-place, oh-so-close district finish of 1:43.53. District time is 1:43.50.

The Hornets finished 25th among 28 teams at the Kentridge Invitational at the King County Aquatics Center Saturday.

Reach Brenda Sexton at bsexton@courierherald.com or 360-802-8206.