This could be the year for junior swimmer Kyle Ciminski.

It’s not that he hasn’t done well his previous two years of high school swimming, he just hasn’t been healthy around the state meet. His freshman year he was recovering from knee surgery while competing at state and his sophomore year he was battling double-pneumonia and mono at the state meet.

“This year I have no problems,” Ciminski said. “I’m ready to go.”

Ciminski established two state qualifying times at the district meet last week with times of 22.50 in the 50-meter freestyle and 55.19 in the 100-meter butterfly. He finished second and third in both events respectively and will return to the state meet for an impressive third time in a row.

The veteran swimmer is excited and confident about his return to the spotlight at the King County Aquatics Center.

“I’ve been there a couple of years already so I’m already well adapted to it,” Ciminski said. “With going in there you know that you’re there for one purpose only and that’s for yourself and you’re going to do your best there and it’s just all up to you in your mind.”

In the short races Ciminski knows that the slightest mistake can throw a swimmer off and he plans on eliminating those at state.

“I actually missed out on first place because I took a tad bit too long in the start and I’m going to make it up down in state,” Ciminski said.

Joining Ciminski is junior Jason Hunter, who will be competing as an individual for the first time in the state meet. Last year he competed as an anchor for both relay teams but is excited about competing as an individual in the 200-meter freestyle.

“The 200 should be a lot of fun,” Hunter said. “I was definitely going for an individual event this year.”

Hunter didn’t make a state qualifying time but because he finished second in districts he has qualified for state.

Also making the trip to state is junior Josh Luttrell, who was a late addition. After placing third in districts, Luttrell was surprised when his coach called him Monday to let him know he had made state as a wildcard in the 100-meter freestyle.

“I’m really stoked,” Luttrell said.

He only started swimming his freshman year in high school and he is now receiving an opportunity to compete among the state’s elite. Prior to this season his goal was to swim his race in less than 56-seconds but he by far surpassed that with a time of 51.19 at the district meet.

“Throughout the season I dropped time in each meet,” Luttrell said.

He is excited about the opportunity to swim at such a large event and the experience he will gain.

“I’m looking forward to getting into get into the water at the state meet and checking out the competition there,” Luttrell said. “Now I’ll know what to expect for next year.”

Head coach Emilie Sullivan is excited about her team’s performance and impressed with their efforts on the season.

“The boys swam really well,” Sullivan said. “They had a great season and their time drops at the district meet definitely showed how well they’ve improved.”