Water Sharks headed to state meet this weekend

The regular season for the Washington Water Shark swim team has come to an end.

Sectionals took play Feb. 10 in Muscatine. There were 41 swimmers that participated in the Sectional meet. This is the last chance of the season for swimmers to qualify for state. There was a new rule change this year that allowed swimmers to qualify at any time during the regular season, which some Water Sharks did in the very first meet of the season. Swimmers can qualify in as many events as possible during the season, but only participate in three individual events and two relays at state.

'We had many swimmers that achieved their own personal best times at Sectionals this year,” coach Samantha Van Houten said. 'It was a great meet to watch, as many of the swimmers made some really great improvements.”

The team had eight regular swim meets, then Sectionals. Of those nine meets, there were a total of 19 swimmers that qualified, either on a relay or individually, for the state meet, which will be held in Marshalltown, where girls will swim Saturday March 2 and boys will swim Sunday March 3.

State qualifiers include: (Girls) Isabel Coffman in the 100-yard breaststroke, Audrey Wubbena in the 200-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and the 100-yard backstroke. Girls 15-21 Medley Relay included: Audrey Wubbena, Tori Hinson, Isabel Coffman, and Carmen Sieren. Girls 15-21 Free Relay included: Alexandrea Murphy, Isabel Coffman, Carmen Sieren, and Audrey Wubbena.

Individual boys qualifiers include: Tyson Huber (8 and under) in the 25-yard freestyle, 50-yard breaststroke, and 25-yard breaststroke, Eli Wulf (8 and under) in the 25 yard freestyle and 25 yard backstroke, Owen Wulf (8 and under) in the 25-yard freestyle, 25-yard butterfly, and 50-yard freestyle, Kaden Huber (8 and under) in the 25 yard butterfly. The 8 and under boys also qualified in the Medley Relay and Free Relay.

Brennen Westphal (11-12 group) will be swimming the 50-yard breaststroke, 100-yard breaststroke, and the 100-yard Individual Medley at state.

Lucas Kitchen qualified in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke. Zachariah Parsons will go to state in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke. Colton Slaubaugh qualified in the 50-yard freestyle, 50-yard butterfly, and 100-yard butterfly.

'We had a few swimmers this year that qualified in multiple events, but they had to narrow down their events to three for the state meet,” Van Houten said.

Michael Kimball qualified in the 200-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard Individual Medley, 200-yard backstroke, 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke, and the 500-yard freestyle. He has chosen to swim the 50, 100, and 200-yard freestyle at state.

Noah Kleese qualified in the 50-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and 100-yard backstroke. He has chosen to swim the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle, and 100-yard backstroke.

Quinn Wubbena qualified in the 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard freestyle, 50-yard freestyle, 50-yard breaststroke, 100-yard freestyle, 100-yard backstroke, 100-yard breaststroke, and the 500-yard freestyle. He will be swimming 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle, and 100-yard breaststroke at state.

The boys have two 15-21 Medley Relays and Free Relays that have also qualified for state. The first Medley Relay is Michael Kimball, Quinn Wubbena, Colton Slaubaugh, and Noah Kleese. They will also swim together on one of the Free Relays. The other Medley Relay includes Gabe Bruns, Riley Yoder, Zachariah Parsons, and Lucas Kitchen. Our second Free Relay includes Kevin Flannery, Gabe Bruns, Zachariah Parsons, and Lucas Kitchen.

These swimmers will enjoy a State Pasta Dinner Feb. 28th at the YMCA after practice.