By MIKE MALTAIS
The Methow Valley Killer Whales Swim Team captured its eighth consecutive Okanogan County championship during competition at the Okanogan pool last Saturday.
The Killer Whales have been dining at the top of their food chain since 2005, gobbling with equal gusto Bullfrogs from Okanogan, Manta Rays from Omak and Bearacudas from Brewster.
Last Saturday (July 27), the valley swimmers outdistanced their nearest rival Okanogan by nearly double, 499 points to 250, leaving Brewster in third place with 201 points and Omak fourth with 121.
A pod full of high-point swimmers assured the Killer Whales’ claim to Saturday’s trophy, led by Jed Butler and Eliza Brown with 38 points each. Brown led among girls 15 to 16 years old and Butler among boys 11 and 12.
Other high-point winners included Leki Albright, girls 6 and under, 24 points, and Malloch DeSalvo with seven points for boys 6 and under.
Ava Rothmeyer collected 12 points for girls 8 and under and Hawke Huff led all boys 8 and under with seven points. Rothmeyer and Huff also led all swimmers 7 to 8 years old with 24 and 23 points, respectively.
Eva Weymuller was the team high-point performer among girls 9 and 10 with 18.5 points. Grace Rothmeyer added 14 points, and Lena Nelson, 10.
Dusty Patterson, Travis Grialou and Tyler Darwood won 27, 26 and 18 points respectively among boys 9 and 10.
Madeline Bosco, Jackie Larsen, McKie Ceasar and Lilly Cooley were one, two, three and four among girls 11 and 12 with 34, 29, 18 and 15 points.
Nicholas Fitzmaurice finished second to Butler with 32 points among boys 11 and 12.
Kate Labanauskas and Madison Ceasar finished near the top of girls 13 and 14 with 29 points each.
Eden Davis and Isaac Wall were one-two among boys 13 and 14 with 32 and 25 points. Mikey Hafsos was fifth with 20.
Micah Klemmeck’s 28 points led all boys 15 and 16 where seven of the eight top finishers were teammates, including Leif Ceasar with 24 points and Ben Klemmeck with 10.
Hannah Hafsos was second among girls 17-18 with 30 points.
The Killer Whales are coached by Jeannie White with help from assistants Derek Oliver and Bo Thrasher.
Home page photo of Leif Ceasar by Georgia Darwood
