Oak Harbor’s swim team’s superior depth carried it to an 86-76 season-opening win at Stanwood Thursday afternoon.
The Wildcats won just four of 11 events, but picked up eight seconds and seven thirds to secure the win.
Price Hu topped the performance list for Oak Harbor by winning two events and swimming on a victorious relay team. His time of 55.48 in the 100-yard fly was a state-qualifying time; and his 2:05.3 in the 200 individual medley was just .03 seconds off the qualifying standard.
He was joined by Jacob Jepsen, Yale Rosen and Matt Bolte on the winning 200 medley relay team (1:45.54); and finished second with Devin Schell, Josh Jepsen, and Jacob Jepsen in the 400 free relay (3:36.68).
Rosen picked up Oak Harbor’s other win in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.82). He also grabbed a second in the 50 free (24.68), and was second in the 200 free relay with Schell, Bolte and Ben Cardinal (1:40.87).
The Wildcats earned two seconds each from Jacob Jepsen (200 free, 1:56.3; 100 back, 58.68) and his brother Josh (200 IM, 2:11.66; 500 free, 5:18.06). Bolte was runner up in the in the 100 free (54.59).
Coach Amy Nurvic said, “I knew it was going to be close, and it was closer than I would like it to be.” She expects Oak Harbor to challenge for the league title and will take the win over the Spartans, a squad she considers to be one of the top teams in Wesco.
The Wildcats open the home season Monday with Jackson at John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool at 6 p.m.