Ike’s Wheeler wins title, just misses another

FEDERAL WAY, Wash. — Being the competitor he is, moments after he completed his prep swimming career, Ian Wheeler wasn’t thinking about his state championship, but rather how he had just fallen oh-so-short of a second one.

Later, after getting away from the heat of the moment, Wheeler was able to look back on his effort in the King County Aquatic Center pool Saturday and have a better appreciation of his achievement.

“State champion does have a nice ring to it,” said the Eisenhower senior, referring to his victory in the Class 4A 200-yard freestyle, which came about an hour before he finished second in the 500 freestyle, losing by .08 seconds.

In addition, for the second consecutive day, Wheeler lowered his all-time Valley best in both events, posting automatic all-American qualification times in each event Saturday.

“Valley best has a nice ring to it,” he continued. “I’m proud of both accomplishments.”

After posting the top qualifying time in the 200 on Friday, Wheeler went out and improved on that swim Saturday, dominating the second 100 yards to win by 11/2 seconds over D’Voreaux Cann of Stadium.

Wheeler’s winning time was 1 minute, 40.14 seconds, with Cann at 1:41.78.

“He really took off in the second 100,” Ike coach Rick Alderson said, adding that Wheeler was a little disappointed because he was hoping to break 1:40.

“I didn’t quite get the time I wanted … but it was a good swim,” Wheeler admitted. “I’m pretty pleased with it.”

But that sprint event took a little out of the long-distrance specialist, and Wheeler said it affected his 500 swim, where he took the early lead before falling behind at the midpoint.

“I didn’t feel as fresh for the 500 and midway through I got a little sloppy,” Wheeler said. “I wanted to get out there and go for it (early) and was a little too aggressive.

“Overall, I raced both equally as well, but in the 500, I wasn’t as smart.”

Even with his mid-race struggles, Wheeler regrouped and was within a second of Garfield’s Reid Walker as they turned for the final 50 yards. Wheeler’s rally fell just short as he was out-touched by Walker at the finish, with the winner clocking a 4:33.11 and Wheeler at 4:33.03.

“He nearly chased him down,” Alderson said. “If there had been 10 more yards, Ian would’ve passed him. He just ran out of pool.

“But he’s a state champion and he’s got to be happy about that.”

Wheeler, who will attend the University of Hawaii, becomes Ike’s first boys state swimming champion since Steve Smith took the 100 free in 1981. Two Ike girls have won titles since then, with Amber Fuller winning the 50 free and 100 butterfly in 1998, and diver Doria Holbrook winning in 2003.

Elsewhere Saturday, in the 3A meet, West Valley’s Taylor McDowell swam in two finals, finishing seventh in the 50 free (22.74) and eighth in the 100 free (49.80). Diver Trenton Miller was 15th.

In the 2A meet, both Selah relay teams posted seventh-place finishes.

The 200 medley relay team of Alex Yager, Cassidy Beebe, Kyle Raschko and Grant Bardwell had a time of 1:50.52, with the 200 free relay team of Yager, Bardwell, Garrett Borchart and Raschko clocking a 1:36.35.

Raschko was also eighth in the 200 individual medley (2:10.75).

Prosser had three swimmers in finals, with Branden Hobbick taking seventh in the 100 butterfly (56.97), and eighth-place finishes for James Wildman in the 50 free (23.34) and Nolan Saam in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.48).

4A RESULTS

200 free: 1, Ian Wheeler (Eisenhower), 1:40.14 (all-American time)

500 free: 2, Wheeler (Ike), 4:33.11 (all-American time)

3A RESULTS

50 free: 7, Taylor McDowell (West Valley), 22.74.

100 free: 8, McDowell (WV), 49.80.

Diving: 15, Trenton Miller (WV), 228.80.

2A RESULTS

200 medley relay: 7, Selah (Alex Yager, Cassidy Beebe, Kyle Raschko, Grant Bardwell), 1:50.52.

200 IM: 8, Kyle Raschko (Selah), 2:10.75.

50 free: 8, James Wildman (Prosser), 23.34.

100 fly: 7, Branden Hobbick (Prosser), 56.97.

200 free relay: 7, Selah (Yager, Bardwell, Garrett Borchart, Raschko), 1:36.35.

100 breast: 8, Nolan Saam (Prosser), 1:06.48.