Swimmers go deep for the win

Spartan swimmers defeated Wilson and Sequim in a triangular meet on Tuesday at the Ray Williamson pool. Though Wilson won seven of the 12 events, the Spartans were much deeper in a 100-82 win. And they took ten of 12 against Sequim for an easy 127-58 win in their second meeting in six days with the Wolves.

Spartan swimmers defeated Wilson and Sequim in a triangular meet on Tuesday at the Ray Williamson pool.

Though Wilson won seven of the 12 events, the Spartans were much deeper in a 100-82 win. And they took ten of 12 against Sequim for an easy 127-58 win in their second meeting in six days with the Wolves.

Bainbridge swimmers scored three deep in every event, which proved crucial against Wilson to offset the Rams’ edge in blue ribbons.

Jake Christensen (50 free, a personal-best 23.81) and Jacob Whitmore (500 free, 5:16.99) joined diver Xander Burmer – who scored 174.35 points despite missing several days of practice due to an injury – and the two freestyle relay teams in taking firsts against both opponents.

Nick Rodda broke open a tight race with Wilson in the third leg of the 200 free relay, as he, Christensen, Nate Rooks and Whitmore clocked 1:36.43.

Wilson got off to a two-second lead in the 400 free relay with Adrian Law, their best swimmer who earlier clocked a state-qualifying 57.28 in the 100 backstroke.

But Tristan Stringer pulled the Spartans narrowly back into first, Matt Colley lengthened the lead and Whitmore brought the team home by a full pool length in 3:32.22.

Winners against Sequim included Tristan Stringer (200 free, 2:01.29), Nate Rooks (200 IM, 2:17.93), Chris Collier (100 breast, personal-best 1:14.55), Nick Rodda (100 fly, personal-best 58.25) and the 200 medley relay (Rooks, Collier, Rodda, Brian Burns).

Other swims of note:

* Michael Stephen-McRae came from far back in his heat of the 100 backstroke to claim fifth place against Wilson, finishing in 1:32.61.

* Nick Moga’s 58:13 in the 100 free was his first-ever sub-60-second clocking.

* Rodda’s 24.52 in the 50 free was also a personal best.

* Stringer clocked 5:42.98 for third in the 500 free.

* Collier’s 54.54 in the 100 free was a personal best by half a second, while his 1:14.55 in the 100 breaststroke shaved a full second off his previous best.

* The “B” 200 free relay – Burns, Drew Keller, Collier, Russell Carroll – clocked 1:43.72 to close within sight of the district qualifying standard of 1:41:00.

The team traveled to Rainier Beach on Thursday for a meet with a combined Viking-Cleveland team in its last action before winter break.

The team returns to action on Friday, Jan. 11, hosting Ballard in its final home meet.