2023 4A Washington Girls State Swim & Dive Champs
- Novmber 9-11, 2023
- King County Aquatics Center, Federal Way, Washington
- Results
- 2022 Champs: Newport
The Washington girls state meet was held this past weekend in Federal Way, Washington. 4A is the “large school” division. After finishing 6th as a team last year, Curtis Senior High School won by over 100 points this year.
Overall Team Scores:
- Curtis 301
- Jackson 171
- Kennedy Catholic 151.5
- Issaquah 148
- Kamiak 141
Despite only winning one individual event, Curtis went home with the win as a team. Their lone individual win came from junior Alexis Bernardo who won the 50 freestyle in a 24.31.
Bernardo also helped the team’s 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays to wins. The team of Takara Putt, May Guidoux, Trinity Link, and Bernardo swam to a final time of 1:48.61 in the 200 medley relay, winning by over three and a half seconds. Bernardo led off the 200 free relay that also featured Lauren Ledesma, Hayden Hoover, and Link. They swam a final time of 1:38.83.
On the individual end, two swimmers each earned two wins. Sophomore Ava Swigart of Lewis and Clark won the 200 free in a 1:51.82 and the 500 free in a 5:02.63. Both were personal best times.
Also winning two events was Hailey Weiler (Kennedy Catholic) who won the 200 IM in a 2:06.59 and the 100 backstroke in a 55.99. Last year, Weiley opted to swim the 200 IM and 100 fly and she finished 6th in the 200 IM (2:12.57) and 5th in the 100 fly (58.71). Weiler dominated both events this year, winning each by over two seconds. Her best times in the events are a 55.76 in the 100 back and a 2:05.71 in the 200 IM both of which she swam this past winter during club season.
Senior Claire Smith of Kamiak won the 100 fly in a 56.14, just off of her personal best of a 55.86 which she swam during club season in March. Smith showed improvement over the last year as she was third in the event at this meet a year ago in a 56.95.
The other senior to earn an event win was Isabelle Parrish (Moses Lake) who won the 100 freestyle in a 52.19. After finishing second last year in a 52.04, Parrish captured the title this year by over a second.
Winning the 100 breaststroke was Kaitlyn Vu of Kennedy Catholic who swam a 1:03.38. Vu had a huge improvement over the last year as she was 4th in the event a year ago with a 1:05.78.
Kennedy Catholic closed the meet with a win in the 400 free relay as Avery Jackson, Lucy LaBella, Vu, and Weiler combined fro a final time of 3:35.39 to win by over two seconds.
What has happened to WA swimming?
WA 3A girls results were a lot faster, but not reported on SwimSwam.
Adding – the 3A meet was faster but also many of the National level girls were given very little rest for State due to upcoming Winter Junior Nationals.
Not the fastest state meet, but a fun one – the 500 free came down to a final touch!
Indeed