The Oak Harbor High School swim team ended the regular season as it started, winning big, this time mauling Mount Vernon 107-63 at John Vanderzicht Memorial Pool Wednesday, Jan. 23.
The Wildcats’ meet with Everett last week was cancelled because of a scheduling mistake and most likely will not be made up.
Oak Harbor finished 9-1 overall and 3-0 in the Wesco 3A North.
Next up is the district meet Friday and Saturday, Feb. 8 and 9, at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
The Wildcats should be one of the top contenders for the district crown, with two-time defending champion Shorewood the favorite.
Seven different Wildcats won individual events against Mount Vernon, with senior Josh Jepsen, in his final home meet, taking two (200 free, 2:02.96; 100 breaststroke, 1:12.01).
Jepsen linked up with Caley Powers, Jarik Bainco and Kevin Levy to take two relays (200 free, 1:45.23; 400 free, 3:53.51).
Powers (100 fly, 1:03.07), Bainco (200 IM, 2:25.27) and Levy (100 free, 58.21) also won individual events.
Other Oak Harbor winners were Toren Wood (50 free, 26.75), Joe Gorman (400 free, 4:56) and Michael Johnson (100 back, 1:10.41).
In addition to Jepsen and Bainco, other seniors (and their top result) swimming in their final home meet were David Kusnick (second, 50 free, 27.36), Cameron Radka (fifth, 50 free, 33.24), Eli Mitchell (ninth, 100 back, 1:34.03) and Stacey Jappert (14th, 100 free, 1:25.59).
Coach Alex Thierry said the times were relatively slow because of the hard training his team went through lately as it prepares for district. The times should improve, he said, as they taper for the post season.
Other Oak Harbor results versus Mount Vernon:
Second: Powers, 200 IM, 2:27.76; Johnson, 100 fly, 1:09.44; Wood, 100 back, 1:13.88; Bainco, 100 breast, 1:17.79; 200 medley relay, Wood, Kusnick, Johnson, Gorman, 2:08.39.
Third: Joey Jepsen, 200 free, 2:32.34; 200 free relay, Wood, Kusnick, Joey Jepsen, Mitchell, 1:59.57; 400 free relay, Joey Jepsen, Ryan Cuajunco, Erik Jensen, Gorman, 4:51.73.
Fourth: Derek Volk, 200 free, 2:33.13, 100 free, 1:07.42; Gorman, 200 IM, 2:45.4; Cuajunco, 400 free, 5:36.82; 200 medley relay, Clayton Livermore, Radka, Jensen, Mitchell, 2:29.05.
Fifth: Jensen, 100 fly, 1:24.91; Joey Jepsen, 400 free, 5:46.38; Kusnick, 100 breast, 1:21.9; 200 medley relay, Cuajunco, Dylan Klein, Raymond Paraiso, Josh Blyther, 2:33.31.
