PORT ANGELES — Tristin Butler swam two state qualifying times and Port Angeles defeated Sequim 123-34 in the season opener for both boys swimming and diving teams.
Butler qualified for state in the 200-yard individual medley (2 minutes, 7.76 seconds) and the 500-yard freestyle (5:08.20).
He also swam with two of the Roughriders’ district-qualifying relays at Thursday’s meet at William Shore Memorial Pool.
Port Angeles placed first and outscored the Wolves in all 12 events.
Joining Butler as a double-event winner was his brother, Cameron, who won the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke, and Wei-Yan Fu, who placed first in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke. In their victories, Cameron Butler and Fu swam district-qualifying times.
Fu and the Butlers teamed with Kody Kuch to qualify the Riders’ 200 medley relay for districts with a time of 1:56.93.
Fu and Tristin Butler, Nathan Bock and Karsten Hertzog swam a district time in the 400 free relay, while Cameron Butler, Hertzog, Kuch and Bock qualified for districts in the 200 free relay.
Other individual district qualifiers for Port Angeles were Hertzog in the 200 free and 100 free, Bock in the 200 free and 500 free, Ryan Amiot in the 500 free,
Hertzog won the 200 free Thursday. The Riders had two other first-place showings, Smit Kataria in the 50 free and Scott Methner in the 1-meter dive.
“They continue to have a strong team,” Sequim coach Linda Moats said of the Riders, “while we have a small and young team.
“Nonetheless, we were able to score a few points and place in the middle of the pack a few times.”
The Wolves had four second-place finishes. Matthew Craig was the runner-up in the 1-meter dive, Wendell Lorenzen took second in the 200 individual medley.
Sequim also placed second in the 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay.
The Wolves swimmers and relays improved their best times from either last season or a mini-meet they held earlier this month.
“Our 200 medley relay placed second with a best time by 12 seconds,” Moats said. “Alex Berikoff swam a 27.96 [seconds] for the freestyle leg of the relay. That was his best time by two seconds.”
Liam Payne placed third in the 100 breast and fourth in the 100 free.
“Liam Payne really surprised everyone in the 100 free,” Moats said.
“He said just before he stepped up to the blocks that he wasn’t a good freestyler. Yet, he swam a 1:10.82 and looked very smooth.
“He has so much potential in swimming.”
Christian Goodrich dropped three seconds off his 200 free and two seconds off his 100 back times from last year.
“He spent a good amount of time conditioning over the summer, and I see that its paying off,” Moats said.
Sequim travels to face Olympic this Thursday.
Port Angeles returns to action Saturday at the Falcon Relays hosted by Foss in Tacoma.
Gymnastics
Riders finish second at season opener
TACOMA — Port Angeles kicked up its season with a second-place showing at the five-team meet at Mount Rainier High School.
Junior Maya Wharton placed sixth and sophomore Cassii Middlestead was seventh in the all-around at Wednesday’s meet.
Wharton took fourth on the floor, seventh on the bars and 10th on the vault.
Middlestead best showing was a fourth-place finish on the bars. She also was fifth on the beam.
Alexis Hefton, a senior, added a 10th-place finish on the bars to the Roughriders team score, which was 140.20.
Mount Rainier won the meet with a score of 159.0.
Port Angeles returns to action this Saturday with a meet against Sehome.
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Compiled using team reports.
