Oak Harbor swam to a new high point in their learning curve this season, adding confidence and experience to a young and still wet behind the ears Wildcat swim team.

Much of the team was new to the sport of competitive swimming, so Captain Kyla Meuer and the girls focused on working together to get experience in the lanes.

“When looking at our numbers we posted this season someone might not think we had a winning season, but we couldn’t have had more fun,” Meuer said. “We’re really proud of how we did, we really came together.”

At the district swim meet held Nov. 7-9, it was a chance to show everyone just how much the team has progressed. Oak Harbor was on a personal best pace, and claimed top spots in almost every event. The 200 medley relay team disqualified in prelims, but their 1:57 time would have been a state qualifying time. Annegret Klinger swam to 12th place in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:44.13. Oak Harbor gave a one, two punch in the 50 freestyle, as Missy McIntyre claimed 1st with 24.41, and captain Kyla Meuer was close on her heels at 24.85. Also placing in the 50 free was Cassie Klieman with 27.77 for 8th place.

In the 100 butterfly, Klinger flew to 12th with 1:15.94. McIntyre earned an All-American time and first place with 105.70 in the 100 breast. Stacy Kallander placed 11th in the 100 breast with 1:18.50. Meuer swam a 53.60 for 1st in the 100 free. Lillian Brunner swam to 9th in the 100 back with 1:13.45. The 400 free relay team also disqualified in prelims.

“We did really well overall and had outstanding swims,” coach Emellie Sullivan said.

First time swimmers at districts, Bridget Elliot, Christie Elliot, Ashley Kozad, Leanne Kozad and Kelsi Franzen, were among the swimmers Sullivan complimented on their improvement throughout the season and strong showing at district.

District highlight

Highlight of the district swim finals day came when Oak Harbor out-swam Snohomish in the 200 free relay. All season, the Wildcats have been in Snohomish’s wake, and have struggled to make state qualifying time. The team of Meuer, senior Ashley Werring, Klieman and McIntyre placed first and qualified for state with a time of 144.00; a split second later Snohomish came in 2nd with 144.22.

Oak Harbor placed 5th overall at the meet.

“The relays really effected how we placed,” Sullivan said. Poised to win the 200 medley, the disqualification “possibly pulled points that along with the first place finish in the 200 free relay could have adjusted the meet outcome,” the coach said.

The Wildcats swam to a record of 3-4 in the WesCo North, 5-5 overall.

“They’re excited about next year now that the first year girls have some experience and a district meet under their belts. Now they see what it’s like, and they’re pumped to swim year-round or add more practice time before turning out for next year,” Sullivan said.

Two leaders ready state

Oak Harbor sends two individual swimmers and the 200 free relay team (with alternates Amy Rose and Annegret Klinger) to the State 4A Swim and Dive Meet in Federal Way tomorrow and Friday.

Senior captain Kyla Meuer will swim the 50 free and 100 free at state. Last year Meuer claimed second in the 50 free and fourth in the 100 free. This year she’ll have stiff competition in the 50 free as teammate Missy McIntyre is also competing. McIntyre edged out Meuer at district.

“I really think it’ll be great if they can go one, two at state this year. It’ll be fun to see who makes what,” Sullivan said.

McIntyre is also defending her title in the 100 breast and will have Jesika Heidloff of Rogers close on her heels as they are seeded one and two respectively.

The Washington State Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (WISCA) “psych sheet” has projected McIntyre number two, and Meuer number five in the 50 free. Meuer is seeded at 5th in the 100 free. WISCA projects McIntyre will defend her title in the 100 breast. The 200 relay team of Meuer, Werring, Klieman and McIntyre is listed at 8th, right in front of Snohomish.

Last year Oak Harbor placed 7th at state, and Sullivan hopes they can make the top six this trip.

Meuer and McIntyre have been the driving force in Oak Harbor’s wins. Both year-round club swimmers with the North Whidbey Aquatic Club, swimming and placing at state is only one of many goals for these girls.

Meuer began swimming at the age of four, and knows she wants to swim at college, but has yet to determine the lucky school.

Team captain well rounded

Described by Sullivan as “what a varsity athlete is supposed to be,” the “well-rounded, fast, intelligent, dedicated and committed” captain never misses a practice and her dedication and commitment to the team are number one, according to her coach.

Meuer competed at the Phillips 66 U.S.A. Swimming Senior Sectionals in Phoenix this past July, where she swam the 100 free, 50 free and 100 back.

“Kyla is an incredibly hard worker. She swims the workout the way I intended when I wrote them,” Sullivan said. Not one to take it easy, Sullivan says while others may know they have time to slow the pace of their swim, Meuer pushes it every interval she swims during practice.

Sad to see her high school career come to an end after state, Meuer says she’s “satisfied knowing I tried the hardest I could.”

Swims with Olympic vision

On the blocks at state, you can bet sophomore Missy McIntyre will be envisioning she’s swimming at the Olympics. For McIntyre it might not only be a dream. She qualified in all eight individual state events, earning “Iron Woman” status, making All-American times, and being a national swimmer to reckon with. She’ll head to the Phillips 66 U.S.A Senior Nationals in April where she’ll swim the 100 and 200 breast, and hopes to make time in the 50 free.

“Missy is the fun one — a real gummy bear, wind-up toy. Yet, when it comes time to get serious and swim fast she knows what she wants and gets it,” Sullivan said.

Direct in her sights is the 2004 summer games in Athens, Greece. This means a 4:30 a.m. breakfast, 5-7 a.m. club swim practice, attending school 7:45 a.m. to 2:15, back in the pool 2:45 – 4:15 p.m. for high school practice, going home to work on homework and eat a huge dinner, off to bed by 8 p.m., only to have the schedule start all over the next day for the future Olympian.

Every time she prepares to step up for a race, McIntyre repeats to herself her favorite Muhammed Ali quote: “Champions are not made in gyms, they are made of something they have deep inside of them — a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to be lightning fast. They have to have lasting stamina. They have to have skills and the will, but the will must be stronger than the skill.”

McIntyre, Meuer and the 200 free relay team will put their will to the test tomorrow in the prelims and the finals Friday, at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

For state 4A swim meet information and scores online go to: www.wiaa.com/tourn/bfs/swreg.htm. To view the 2002 4A Swim and Dive Meet “psych sheet” at the Washington Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association Web site go to www.wisca.org.