When Cole Avery finished first place in the 50 freestyle at 22.81 seconds on Wednesday, Jan. 25, at the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center, he soaked in the satisfaction of a Class 2A state qualifying time.
It's a feeling he knows pretty well. By qualifying for state in the 50 freestyle, he has done so in all nine swimming events this season.
Avery became the first freshman in the history of Sehome boys' swimming to become an ironman, earning a state-qualifying time in every swimming event, as the Mariners defeated Bellingham 143-42 for their eighth straight victory.
"Cole making it as a freshman is a big deal," Sehome coach Don Helling said in a phone interview. "Not only because he did it in all the strokes but all the distances too. To be able to do that is quite an accomplishment."
Helling said Austin Fish was the last Sehome swimmer to accomplish the feat when he did it as a senior last year.
He said he expects Casey Klipsch to become an ironman in the Mariners' final meet of the season against Squalicum on Jan. 26, at Arne Hanna. Klipsch needs only to qualify for state in the 500 freestyle to earn a state qualification in every event. It would be the first time in Sehome history two swimmers were ironmen in one season if he can pull it off, Helling said.
Bellingham also competed against Mount Vernon, but fell 110-70.
Sehome swept Bellingham, earning first place in every event, while Bellingham's Bryce Garcia beat Mount Vernon in diving and the 400 freestyle relay team won as well.
The Sehome 200 freestyle relay team took first place overall in 1:31.14, improving on its best 2A time by three seconds. It also moved to the second best overall time in the state behind Mercer Island.
Patrick Gregory improved on his state-best time in the 100 breaststroke, finishing in 1:03.60. Casey Klipsch and Allen Cui earned their first state-qualifying times in the event.
SEHOME 143, BELLINGHAM 42
200 medley relay: Sehome (Cole Avery, Isaiah Grambo, Trip Jakeman, Josh Larson) 1:53.91; 200 freestyle: Curran Wilbour (Sehome) 1:53.54; 200 individual medley: Casey Klipsch (Sehome) 2:03.26; 50 freestyle: Cole Avery (Sehome) 22.81; Diving: Ezra Bergeron (Sehome) 109.4; 100 butterfly: Cole Avery (Sehome) 55.29; 100 freestyle: Curran Wilbour (Sehome) 53.62; 500 freestyle: Andy Small (Sehome) 5:08.84; 200 freestyle relay: Sehome (Cole Avery, Allen Cui, Casey Klipsch, Patrick Gregory) 1:31.14; 100 backstroke: Andy Small (Sehome) 1:01.44; 100 breaststroke: Patrick Gregory (Sehome) 1:03.60; 400 freestyle relay: Sehome (Andy Small, Curran Wilbour, Casey Klipsch, Isaiah Grambo) 3:37.54.
SEHOME VS MOUNT VERNON - SCORE UNAVAILABLE
200 medley relay: Sehome (Cole Avery, Isaiah Grambo, Trip Jakeman, Josh Larson) 1:53.91; 200 freestyle: Curran Wilbour (Sehome) 1:53.54; 200 individual medley: Casey Klipsch (Sehome) 2:03.26; 50 freestyle: Cole Avery (Sehome) 22.81; Diving: Ezra Bergeron (Sehome) 109.4; 100 butterfly: Cole Avery (Sehome) 55.29; 100 freestyle: Curran Wilbour (Sehome) 53.62; 500 freestyle: Andy Small (Sehome) 5:08.84; 200 freestyle relay: Sehome (Cole Avery, Allen Cui, Casey Klipsch, Patrick Gregory) 1:31.14; 100 backstroke: Andy Small (Sehome) 1:01.44; 100 breaststroke: Patrick Gregory (Sehome) 1:03.60; 400 freestyle relay: Sehome (Andy Small, Curran Wilbour, Casey Klipsch, Isaiah Grambo) 3:37.54.
MOUNT VERNON 110, BELLINGHAM 70
200 medley relay: Mount Vernon (Kang, Groesbeck, Yarrow, Billick) 1:55.02; 200 freestyle: K. Yarrow (Mount Vernon) 1:54.87; 200 individual medley: J. Yarrow (Mount Vernon) 2:25.841; 50 freestyle: Groesbeck (Mount Vernon) 25.10; Diving: Bryce Garcia (Bellingham) 85.50; 100 butterfly: K. Yarrow (Mount Vernon) 57.60; 100 freestyle: Magneson (Mount Vernon) 59.11; 500 freestyle: J. Yarrow (Mount Vernon) 5:52.40; 200 freestyle relay: Mount Venron (Groesbeck, Billick, Yarrow, Yarrow) 1:41.70; 100 backstroke: Felt (Mount Vernon) 1:12.65; 100 breaststroke: Groesbeck (Mount Vernon) 1:12.24; 400 freestyle relay: Bellingham (Nick Stout, Logan Dozal, Jack Chmelik, Nick Donath) 4:08.62.
