Pool party: Wildcats host Senior Night / Swim and dive

By Jim Waller • October 12, 2018 1:30 am

When the Oak Harbor High School swim and dive team began the season in August, uncertainty hung over the squad.

With John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool closed, the Wildcats were forced to practice in an outdoor pool at Admiral’s Cove.

No home meets were scheduled.

When the weather turned cold and practicing outdoors became impractical, the Wildcats didn’t know if they could complete the season.

That changed when Vanderzicht Pool reopened this month.

Everett graciously agreed to switch its home meet with Oak Harbor to Vanderzicht Pool, and with the move, the Wildcats were able to hold a Senior Night Thursday to honor its graduating members.

“The girls had a different energy tonight,” Oak Harbor coach Amy Merkley said after the home meet.

The only tarnish on the evening was that Everett won the meet 96-86.

The outcome, however, was not unexpected, according to Merkley.

Oak Harbor has only 10 eligible team members — the remaining hardy souls willing to deal with the chaotic season, according to Merkley.

With such a small squad, the Wildcats do not have enough depth to win dual meets.

In fact, Oak Harbor finished first in seven of the 12 events against the Seagulls and split the second places. Everett was able to gather enough thirds, fourths and fifths to claim the meet.

Merkley noted the emphasis this season isn’t on winning meets but focusing on individual times and improvements.

As far as those goals, the season is “going fine,” she said.

“It was so nice to have a home meet,” Merkley said. “It is good to see the community support the program.”

It didn’t surprise Merkley that Everett was willing to make the long trip up to Whidbey Island.

“We help each other out; that’s how the swimming community works,” she said.

Everett coach Bailey Ryan agreed.

“If we were in the same boat, someone would help us,” she said. “It is important to the Oak Harbor community and the team that they have their Senior Night at their home pool.”

Everett 96, OH 86

Grace Chargualaf paced Oak Harbor with two individual wins (100-meter butterfly, 1:25.21; 400 freestyle, 5:53.65). She also joined Caitlin Dennen, Frances Empinado and Diandra Dominguez in winning the 200-medley relay (2:35.19) and 400-free relay (4:58.81).

Empinado (200 individual medley, 3:08.44), Dennen (100 free, 1:12.49) and Dominguez (100 breaststroke, 1:42.05) each added individual wins.

The Wildcats close out the regular season against Snohomish and Monroe at the Snohomish Aquatic Center at 3:15 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16.

Other Oak Harbor results against Everett:

Second: Izzy Sanchez, 200 free, 3:10.31; Dominguez, 200 IM, 3:19; Dennen, 50 free, 31.69; Kelly Gruenwald, diving, 155.1; Empinado, 100 backstroke, 1:22.34; 200 free relay (Maddy Ward, Sophie Sandahl, Sanchez, Lindsey Griffith), 2:35.78.

Third: Meagan Kunze, 100 back, 1:40.75; 200 medley relay (Kunze, Sandahl, Sanchez, Ward), 2:54.38.

Fourth: Sanchez, 100 free, 1:25.8; Griffith, 400 free, 6:21.16; 200 free, 3:19.35; Sandahl, 100 breaststroke, 1:55.25.

Fifth: Ward, 50 free, 39; 100 breast, 2:00.33; Kunze, 100 free, 1:29.49.