Wildcats compete in state meet | Swimming

Molly Vagt, Marissa Morris and the 200 medley relay team all scored points for Oak Harbor High School at the 3A state swimming championships at Federal Way Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14 and 15.

Molly Vagt, Marissa Morris and the 200 medley relay team all scored points for Oak Harbor High School at the 3A state swimming championships at Federal Way Friday and Saturday, Nov. 14 and 15.

The Wildcats finished 31st in the meet with 10 points; Lakeside of Seattle took the title with 333 points.

The top 16 finishers in each race scored points.

Vagt produced the best Oak Harbor result, placing 12th in the 500-yard freestyle (5:23.45). Morris was 17th (5:28.61).

Morris, who also qualified for state in 2012 and 2013, competed in the 200 free as well, finishing 16th (2:04.05), and Vagt was 22nd in the 100 butterfly (1:02.37).

The 200 medley relay team completed the Wildcat scoring by nabbing 15th. Mollie Briddell, Taliah Black, Lauren Vagt and Molly Vagt posted a 2:00.2.

Oak Harbor also qualified for state in the other two relays.

Jillian Pape, Taliah Black, Lauren Vagt and Morris nabbed 17th in the 200-free relay (1:49); and Briddell, Erica Sugatan and the Vagts placed 19th in the 400-free relay (3:58.43).

Briddell, a three-time state participant, swam in two individual events, finishing 18th in the 100 backstroke (1:04.63) and 21st in the 100 free (57.89).

Black was 21st in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.98).

“The girls had an excellent season and I’m very proud that so many of them made it to the ‘dance,’ state,” coach Erin Bull said. “Five of the seven experienced state for the first time, battling excitement, anxious emotions and unending nerves. Although they may not have performed as well as they had hoped, I’m very proud of their accomplishments and look forward to another exciting season in 2015.”