The Federal Way High School girls swimming and diving team isn’t lacking for individual talent this season. Longtime head coach Carla Boone brings back two of the better athletes this year in Kenna Ramey and Tia Thomas.
Ramey pulled off the rare double at last season’s Class 4A Girls Swimming and Diving Championship inside the King County Aquatic Center. Ramey repeated her state championship swim in the 50-yard freestyle and also won the 100-yard butterfly gold medal. Both winning times were personal bests, which is the goal of any swimmer.
Ramey swam a blazing 23.44 to easily outdistance Wenatchee’s Hannah Bruggman (23.68) in the 50 free. Ramey’s time was good enough to earn automatic All-American honors.
Ramey also went wire-to-wire in the 100 fly final, finishing in a time of 56.00. The swim was good enough to earn All-American consideration.
Thomas also had an impressive performance at the state meet. As a sophomore, Thomas garnered a bronze medal at state by scoring 349.7 points in the 1-meter diving event.
Joining Ramey and Thomas as returners for the Eagles will be junior Kolby Blake, senior Lynsey Yunker and sophomores Jenin and Karen Um. Federal Way is hoping to improve on the 5-2 record they compiled in the South Puget Sound League last season.
“Their ability to get along with each other and help each other whether it is in the pool, at school or outside of school is a strength of this team,” Boone said. “The success of this team is not counted in wins or losses. The success for FWHS is how well they work as a team and see themselves as a family. From our state champion (Ramey) to our newest members that need swim lessons, each team member is treated equally by one another.”
The Todd Beamer Titans should be improved from a season ago under head coach Malcolm Neely.
The Titans return several swimmers from a season ago, including senior Ryann Probstfield (breaststroke), juniors Natalie Modlin (backstroke) and Celena McPeak (butterfly) and sophomore diver Tasha Smith.
Beamer did get some bad news when senior Estelle Kim decided not to turn out. Kim swam at the state meet during her Titan career and was the only Beamer swimmer to qualify for the West Central District Meet last year.
Neely will also be counting on newcomers Morgan Vance (breaststroke and butterfly) and sophomore diver Nadia Testroat to score points, along with senior Sem Vandenbusch, who is an exchange student from the Netherlands.
“Everyone must challenge themselves daily in practice by working hard and concentrating on proper technique,” Neely said. “Teammates need to support each other all season.”
No information was provided to the Mirror regarding the Decatur and Jefferson girls swim and dive teams.
