South Kitsap’s boys swim team isn’t looking to be flashy. Instead, coach Cliff Rousell is focusing on turning steady performances into success.
“It’s a good, solid team that we’ve got,” said Rousell of the group of 44, which he said is one of the school’s larger teams.
“We had a young team last year, so all of those guys are coming back.”
Those expected to make the greatest impact include sophomores Simon and Matthew Martin, juniors Nils Johnson and Wilson Sydenstricker and senior Andrew Straavaldson.
And then there is sophomore Dylan Macabitas, who as a freshman at Cedar Heights Junior High was the Wolves’ lone state swimmer in 2013. He finished 17th, in 55.84 seconds, just one place out of the consolation finals.
“Dylan’s looking great in the water,” Rousell said. “He kept up with his offseason training. He’s definitely in good shape.”
Macabitas, who competes for the Puget Sound Swim Club, said he is pretty close to his state time. But while he is pleased with that, it isn’t enough.
“We just filled out a goal sheet,” he said. “I want to make two state-qualifying times.”
That may be in the 200 individual medley, which he said he “really likes.”
Macabitas said his other goal is to break the school backstroke record of 53.94 set in 2010 by Brandon Dravis at the state meet.
Rousell said that compared to last year, this team is in better shape from a conditioning standpoint because several of the swimmers also played water polo.
South lost Justin Hart, but has six divers, four of whom are “looking pretty good on the board,” Rousell said.
Barring issues with academic eligibility, he said, “there’s a good chance that one or two of them can get to districts.”
Rousell said it is too early to tell if he has any other state contenders, but he is optimistic that some relays will qualify.
“I guess the tale of the tape is coming up when we have our first match against Gig Harbor,” he said before the Dec. 5 meet. “We’ll see how these guys really perform.”
The Tides, against whom the Wolves always open the season, are a perennial powerhouse in the Class 4A Narrows League, but Rousell said he doesn’t focus on the score.
“What I stress is individual progress,” he said. “As long as I know that I haven’t got the firepower, the front-end speed or the depth that Gig Harbor or some of these other teams do that have a lot of club support, that’s OK.
“We have a lot of guys that don’t have a club background that are learning a lot. That’s working really well.”
Rousell added that several of the eight freshmen do have club experience.
“Once we get a little bit more conditioning and a little more practice under our belt,” he said, “there could be something pretty special for the team as a whole.”
