Seniors lead Wildcats to win over Stanwood | Swimming

The Oak Harbor High School swim team celebrated Senior Night Monday, Jan. 25, and the 12th graders did their part in helping the Wildcats slip by Stanwood 87-84 at John Vanderzicht Pool in the final regular-season meet of 2015-16.

By Jim Waller • January 26, 2016 11:59 am
Jose Cabigting swims the breaststroke leg of the individual medley; he finished second in the event.
Jose Cabigting swims the breaststroke leg of the individual medley; he finished second in the event.

The Oak Harbor High School swim team celebrated Senior Night Monday, Jan. 25, and the 12th graders did their part in helping the Wildcats slip by Stanwood 87-84 at John Vanderzicht Pool in the final regular-season meet of 2015-16.

All nine seniors scored, six took part in winning events, seven dropped time and one posted two district qualifying times.

Two seniors, Joe Gorman and Eric Jensen, tallied four firsts.

Gorman won the 200- (2:15.46) and 400-meter (4:50.59) freestyles, and Jensen captured the 50 free (27.81) and 100 butterfly (1:06.43).

The pair joined fellow seniors Logan Clark and Cole McCaslin to win the 200 free relay (1:56.91); and teamed with Clark and junior Jose Cabigting to take the 200 medley relay (2:08.23).

The meet was close throughout, then senior Jared Hunt (1:23.34) and Cabigting (1:23.5) went 1-2 in the next to last event, the 100 breaststroke, to give the Wildcats a 10-point lead that enabled Oak Harbor to hold on when Stanwood took the final event, the 400 free relay.

The four other Wildcat seniors, Daniel Guerrero, Quinn Karney, Nathan Larsen and Andrew Snyder, all scored critical team points by swimming on second-place relay teams.

Coach Erin Bull called it a “fantastic meet,” as she saw 10 of the 12 participants (four twice) set season-best marks: Clark (50 free, 28.31; 100 free, 1:05.1), Jensen (50 free, 27.81; 100 fly, 1:06.43), Larsen (50 free, 33.96; 100 breaststroke, 1:28.51), freshman Pablo Closson (50 free, 35.79; 100 free, 1:25.86), Guerrero (50 free, 31.22), McCaslin (200 free, 2:20.26), Cabigting (200 individual medley, 2:53.84), Snyder (200 IM, 3:07.51), Quinn Karney (50 free, 30.04) and sophomore Garrett Karney (100 backstroke, 1:30.24).

Clark’s times were district cuts.

Next up for the Wildcats (5-6) is the district meet at 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 12, and 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13, at the Snohomish Aquatic Center.

Other results versus Stanwood:

Second: McCaslin, 200 free, 2:20.26; 400 free, 5:10.84; Clark, 50 free, 28.31; 100 free, 1:05.1; Cabigting, 200 IM, 2:53.84; Garrett Karney, 100 back, 1:30.24; 200 free relay (Snyder, Guerrero, Larsen, Hunt), 2:05.85; 400 free relay (Garrett Karney, Quinn Karney, Cabigting, McCaslin), 5:07.68.

Fourth: Snyder, 200 IM, 3:07.51; 200 medley relay (Garrett Karney, Hunt, Quinn Karney, Snyder), 2:30.07.

Fifth: Hunt, 200 free, 2:48.8; Quinn Karney, 100 free, 1:14.27; Guerrero, 100 breast, 1:33.52.

Sixth: Garrett Karney, 200 IM, 3:16.02; Snyder, 50 free, 32.12; Closson, 100 free, 1:25.85.

(Left, senior Joe Gorman swims the lead-off backstroke leg for the winning medley relay team. Below, senior Jared Hunt wins the 100-meter breaststroke. Photos by John Fisken.)