POULSBO — North Kitsap’s swimming and diving team beat South Kitsap last year.
This season, the Wolves snapped back.
Members of the South Kitsap team won all but two events when the two teams met Thursday afternoon in the North Kitsap community pool, storming to a 122-57 win.
North Kitsap was without top swimmer Jacklene Salwei, who was recovering from minor surgery. She will likely return next week.
The Vikings’ top performers included Lindsey Erickson, who took first place in the 50 freestyle and posted a district-qualifying time in the swim to boot; and Krissy Dickson, who took first place in diving against South Kitsap’s lone entry.
South Kitsap virtually filled the pool with impressive times, a fact that pleased head coach Dennis Anderson, whose Wolves’ team had been struck by a persistent cold.
“I’ve got girls who are sick and swimming,” Anderson said.
Top individuals for South included Rachel Hubner, who took first in the 200 IM and the 100 fly and added her speed to the first-place winning 200 free relay team; Erin Carpenter, who took first in the 200 IM, the 100 backstroke and served on a pair of relay teams, including the 200 free; and Madison Rousell, who snagged first in the 200 free, first in the 100 free and was on several successful relay teams.
Anderson said he is not surprised the team has talent, but he has been startled by the depth they have added this year.
“We have so much more depth,” he said after Thursday’s meet. “We tied Wilson (earlier this season) and we never come close to Wilson.”
North Kitsap coach Greg Braun said he was happy that the Vikings achieved so many district qualifying times.
Freshman Whitney Glebe notched district qualifying times in the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke. Emma Williams posted a successful time in the 100 breastroke. Dickson reached the standard in diving (she qualified earlier in the season as well) and Erickson reached it in the 50 free.
Several more are only a few seconds — or closer — to reaching those times.
Williams said the team is starting faster than last year, and credits part of that to more difficult and demanding drills and pre-race warmups.
“It’s going really, really well. We’ve started out incredibly,” Williams said.
