Bulldogs defeat Wildcats in final home meet / Swim and dive

By Jim Waller • January 9, 2018 1:30 am

The Mount Vernon High School swim and dive team slipped by Oak Harbor 102-80 Monday, Jan. 8, at John Vanderzicht Pool.

The Bulldogs led by only two points, 54-52, after seven events then won five of the remaining six to pull away.

As is tradition for Oak Harbor’s final home meet of the season, the Wildcats honored their seniors before the contest and tossed coach Amy Merkley into the pool after.

Micah Franklin and Lawrence Zapanta paced Oak Harbor’s attack by winning two individual events and competing on a victorious relay team.

The pair joined Matt Kolden and Rylan Quiros to win the meet’s first event, the 200-meter medley relay, in 2:12.79.

Franklin added wins in diving (105.3) and the 100 butterfly (1:14.32), and Zapanta captured the 200 individual medley (2:51.16) and 100 breaststroke (1:27).

“I thought our boys swam hard last night, and I see a lot of improvement and some things to work on for next week to see even more improvements,” coach Amy Merkley said. “I really enjoyed our A team relays last night. Great energy and team effort.”

Oak Harbor (1-5) goes against Cascade (1-4), Bellingham (0-4), Squalicum (2-2) and Ferndale (0-1) at 3:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 16, at Bellingham’s Arne Hanna Aquatic Center.

Other Oak Harbor results against Mount Vernon

Second: Aaron Martinez, 200 freestyle, 2:40.14; Kyto Morrow, diving, 102.75; Garrett Karney, 400 free, 5:42.25; Kolden, 100 backstroke, 1:22.86; Quiros, 100 breast, 1:32.72; 200 free relay (Franklin, Quiros, Zapanta, Martinez), 1:56.78; 400 free relay (Karney, Pablo Closson, Martinez, Kolden), 5:13.83.

Third: Quiros, 50 free, 28.25; Claude Thrailkill, diving, 89.8; Martinez, 100 free, 1:08.72; 200 medley relay (Kyle Torres, Morrow, Karney, Ethan Wilson), 2:37.89.

Fourth: Kolden, 50 free, 30.84; John Francisco, 100 free, 1:15.45; Closson, 400 free, 6:31.33; 200 free relay (Samuel Noel, Morrow, Riley Williamson, Thrailkill), 2:16.54.

Fifth: Karney, 200 IM, 3:08.03; Andrew Lof, 200 free, 3:46.23; Hartley, 100 free, 1:16.86; 400 free relay (Hartley, Thrailkill, Yuji Caballero, Torres), 6:21.07.

Sixth: Closson, 200 IM, 3:28.63; Lof, 400 free, 7:30.49; Morrow, 100 breast, 1:44.86; 200 free relay (Caballero, Francisco, Hartley, Wilson), 1:56.78.