‘Cats set five state marks

Five state qualification times were set by the Oak Harbor High School swim team in Thursday afternoon’s 116-60 victory over Stanwood at John Vanderzicht Memorial pool. Coming off a win over Lynden on Tuesday where John Hu and Tyler Schell swam Class 4A qualifying times in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle, respectively, the speedy duo will be in five additional state events after times were tabulated from the meet against the Spartans.

Five state qualification times were set by the Oak Harbor High School swim team in Thursday afternoon’s 116-60 victory over Stanwood at John Vanderzicht Memorial pool.

Coming off a win over Lynden on Tuesday where John Hu and Tyler Schell swam Class 4A qualifying times in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle, respectively, the speedy duo will be in five additional state events after times were tabulated from the meet against the Spartans.

Hu qualified in the 100-meter butterfly in a time of 59.12, in the 100 backstroke with a clocking of 1:01.84 and swam a time of 25:37 in the first leg of the 200 freestyle relay, which gave him a qualifying time in the 50 freestyle.

Schell earned himself a trip to the state meet winning the 200-meter freestyle in a time of 2:01.27 and also in the 100 freestyle with a time of 55.83 on the leadoff leg of the 400 freestyle relay.

“The guy I swam against, Matt Roe, is a strong swimmer,” Schell said after his win in the 200 freestyle. “My time was the best I could hope for right now.”

Yale Rosen, who was voted a second-team WesCo North defensive end during the football season, made what would appear to be a major change moving from the gridiron to the pool.

However, the sophomore is as an outstanding swimmer as he is a football player, and won the 50-meter freestyle in a time of 27.26. He was also a member of the winning 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams.

“My goggles filled with water, so I swam a little faster than I thought,” he said after the 50 freestyle. “I’m just glad I won.”

Hu said the Wildcats have a good team this year and everyone is strong. “We just have to keep things going,” he said.

In her first season as swim coach at Oak Harbor, Amy Nurvic said she was very happy with the way the team has done in its first two meets.

“It’s just our second meet of the season and already we have had a lot of state times set,” she said.

Oak Harbor’s next home meet is at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, against the strong team from Jackson High School.

Oak Harbor 116, Stanwood 60

(Oak Harbor placers)

200 medley relay — 1. Oak Harbor (John Hu, Yale Rosen, Price Hu and Bryce Vagt) 1:59.62; 3. Oak Harbor (Jacob Jepsen, Anthony Yockey, Chris Rankin and Brandon Vagt) 2:04.74.

200 freestyle — 1. Tyler Schell 2:01.27; 3. Devin Schell 2:14.14; 4. Bryce Vagt 2:17.74.

200 individual medley — 2. Jacob Jepsen 2:24.19; 3. Brandon Vagt 2:32.39; 5. Michael McGinnis 2:37.04.

50 freestyle — 1. Yale Rosen 27.26; 3. Cory Blyther 28.14; 4. Chris Rankin 28.32.

Diving — 1. Price Hu 104.60 points.

100 butterfly — 1. John Hu 59.12; 2. Price Hu 1:03.24, 4. Brandon Vagt 1:07.91.

100 freestyle — 1. Tyler Schell 55.99; 3. Cory Blyther 1:02.37; 4. Chris Rankin 1:04.40.

400 freestyle — 2. Bryce Vagt 4:44.55; 3. Devin Schell 4:50.82; 4. Matt Bolte 5:36.94.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Oak Harbor (John Hu, Jacob Jepsen, Yale Rosen and Tyler Schell) 1:47.08; 2. Oak Harbor (Cory Blyther, Matt Bolte, Chris Rankin and Devin Schell) 1:57.40.

100 backstroke — 1. John Hu 1:01.84; 3. Jacob Jepsen 1:08.47; 4. Michael McGinnis 1:16.42.

100 breaststroke — 1. Yale Rosen 1:15.67; 3. Anthony Yockey 1:23.87.

400 freestyle relay — 2. Oak Harbor (Tyler Schell, Price Hu, Brandon Vagt and Bryce Vagt) 4:02.86; 3. Oak Harbor (Devin Schell, Michael McGinnis, Matt Bolte and Cory Blyther) 4:19.94.