Rouse finds swimming home at Squalicum

Going into his junior year, Kean Rouse didn’t know where he was going to swim.

The Blaine boys’ swimmer had previously swam as part of a co-op with Lynden but after that ended after his sophomore season, Rouse needed a school to swim with.

Rouse’s mom, Shawna, and Squalicum swim coach Randy Elsner worked together with athletic director Patrick Brown and at the “last minute” were able to work something out for Rouse to compete for the Storm.

“It’s a shame when a swimmer wants to be part of a high school team and can’t,” Elsner said in a phone interview. “If I see someone that wants to practice and compete with a team, it shows me I want to give this guy an opportunity.”

Rouse certainly made the most of his chance, finishing 12th in the 500 freestyle and 13th in the 200 individual medley at the Class 2A State Championships, and solidifying himself as one of the leaders of a youthful Storm team.

Now as a senior, Rouse is hoping to improve on that success and he’ll be able to do it with a couple Borderites along with him.

Over the offseason, Rouse along with the help of his mom was able to recruit four more Blaine swimmers to join the Squalicum co-op. It means Rouse and the Borderites will be able to field a relay team and it gives Blaine a distinct team feel — one that was present between Rouse and the Storm last year but will be amplified this season.

“It was kind of frustrating sometimes,” Rouse said of last season in a phone interview. “I think it (this season) will be a lot more fun.”

Fun might be the key for the Borderite, who travels from Blaine nine times a week for swim practice — he also swim for Bellingham Bay Swim Team.

While the roughly hour round-trip might be too much for most people to do so frequently, it’s all worth getting extra time in the pool for Rouse.

“I’m pretty casual about swimming but I just want to keep getting better and compete with friends,” Rouse said. “A lot of the time, there’s days where it’s not fun to practice but you just keep pushing through. You think about the work you’re putting in now and that it will pay off when you actually need it.”

Rouse is hoping the hardwork comes to fruition in his final year in the high school pool, setting his sights on reaching the finals of the state championships.

With the times he’s brought in to start the high school season, a stellar season is well within the works.

In a practice 500 freestyle set last week, Rouse posted a 5 minute, 10 seconds time — the same time he swam at the state championships last season.

“It’s exciting when they can come in ahead of where they left,” Elsner said. “It says he definitely put together a lot of training and a lot of time to be able to get to that point.”

As fit as Rouse is coming into the season, it’s allowed Elsner to push him harder early on and if Rouse continues to improve, he’ll certainly be in contention for a podium spot come February.

This story was originally published December 10, 2015 at 9:17 AM with the headline "Rouse finds swimming home at Squalicum."