Time to raise the victory banner at John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool.

For as long as anyone could remember, even people who have been associated with swimming in Oak Harbor for a number of years like race director Sally Dillon, couldn’t recall a time when such an event took place.

“I have no idea the last time we beat Snohomish,” Dillon, who is also a member of the North Whidbey Masters swim team and a North Whidbey Park and Recreation District commissioner, said.

On Tuesday, the Oak Harbor High School swim team met Snohomish and Glacier Peak in a double dual meet and the Wildcats ran their season record to 7-0 beating Snohomish 101-81 and topping Glacier Peak 137-26.

For many years the Panthers from Snohomish have been a nearly impossible team to beat in the pool but this season, the Wildcats are better.

Despite being short a couple to team members, Oak Harbor came through in championship fashion.

“We did pretty good and swam some good times today,” coach Amy Nurvic said. “We had some of the kids swimming off events, but they adapted well.”

The Panthers won the first three events, but Oak Harbor remained close in the points race finishing second, third and fourth in the 200 medley relay, second, fourth and fifth in the 200 freestyle, and third and fifth in the 200 individual medley.

Tyler Schell put the Wildcats into the victory column winning 50 freestyle, with teammates Jacob Jepsen and Bryce Vagt finishing third and fourth.

After that, the Wildcats simply took off.

The Hu brothers, Price and John, won the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle events, respectively, and after Devin Schell placed second in the 400 freestyle, Oak Harbor teams finished first and second in the 200 freestyle relay.

“My time in the butterfly wasn’t quite what I was hoping to get, but I’m really close to getting a state time,” Price Hu said. “Brandon (Vagt) was right on me for the first 50 meters, so I knew I had to go all out.”

Vagt finished second in the event for the Wildcats.

Tyler Schell finished second to John Hu in the 100 freestyle and said he didn’t do as well as he thought he would.

“I’ve kinda been sick for the last couple of weeks, but I still think I pulled off a decent time,” Schell said.

Hu followed up by winning the 100 backstroke with Jepsen second, and the Wildcats added to their point total finishing second, third and fourth in the 100 breaststroke.

In the final event of the meet, Oak Harbor teams placed second and third in the 400 freestyle relay.

“We finally beat Snohomish,” Nurvic said. “It’s been awhile since we did and the kids are excited. I’m excited too, it was an all-around good meet.”

Swimming

Tuesday, Dec. 16

Oak Harbor 101, Snohomish 81

Oak Harbor 137, Glacier Peak 26

(Oak Harbor placers)

200 medley relay — 2. Oak Harbor (Jacob Jepsen, John Hu, Price Hu and Bryce Vagt) 2:00.15; 3. Oak Harbor (Devin Schell, Anthony Yockey, Brandon Vagt and Chris Rankin) 2:09.40; 4. Oak Harbor (Ben Cardinal, Michael McGinnis, Matt Bolte and Cory Blyther) 2:17.12. 200 freestyle — 2. Devin Schell 2:11.12; 4. Cory Blyther 2:32.39; 5. Chris Rankin 2:33.96.

200 individual medley — 3. Michael McGinnis 2:41.30; 5. Anthony Yockey 2:44.45. 50 freestyle — 1. Tyler Schell 26.28; 3. Jacob Jepsen 27.85; 4. Bryce Vagt 28.91. Diving — 3. Price Hu 85.70 points. 100 butterfly — 1. Price Hu 1:03.13; 2. Brandon Vagt 1:05.56. 100 freestyle — 1. John Hu 54.95; 2. Tyler Schell 57.05; 5. Bryce Vagt 1:02.91. 400 freestyle — 2. Devin Schell 4:50.60; 4. Michael McGinnis 5:02.17. 200 freestyle relay — 1. Oak Harbor (John Hu, Jacob Jepsen, Bryce Vagt and Tyler Schell) 1:47.93; 2. Oak Harbor (Chris Rankin, Matt Bolte, Michael McGinnis and Cory Blyther) 1:55.42. 100 backstroke — 1. John Hu 1:04.60; 2. Jacob Jepsen 1:09.53; 5. Ben Cardinal 1:23.90. 100 breaststroke — 2. Brandon Vagt 1:17.43, 3. Anthony Yockey 1:22.80; 4. Michael McGinnis 1:23.69. 400 freestyle relay — 2. Oak Harbor (Tyler Schell, Price Hu, Devin Schell and Brandon Vagt) 4:05.42; 3. Oak Harbor (Chris Rankin, Matt Bolte, Cory Blyther and Anthony Yockey) 4:28.66.