Eatonville swimmer has record-breaking performance at state championships

The Eatonville High School swim team competed in the WIAA Girls State Swimming and Diving Championships this past Friday and Saturday.

On Friday in the prelims, Eatonville's Olivia White had a record-breaking day. In the 200-yard individual medley, she broke her school record and finished in sixth place in her heat, which seeded her in sixth place for the finals the following day. In the finals she again broke her school record she broke the previous day and came away with a sixth-place finish in the state.

White competed in the 100-yard backstroke, as well, and in the prelims on Friday, she again broke her school record as she finished in third place and was seeded third for the finals on Saturday. In the finals, White broke yet another one of her school records as she swam her way to a third-place finish in the state.

The Cruiser 400-yard relay team of Anna Benato, Rylee Valentine, Torrin White and Olivia White recorded their best time of the season, besting their time by over two seconds. Only the top 16 teams  moved on to the finals. The team finished in 18th place, which would put them in the second alternate spot going into the finals.

Head swim coach Andrea Stammen said she was very proud of White’s accomplishments. “All of Olivia's accomplishments throughout the season and at state are hard-earned and well deserved,” she said. “She is an exceptionally hard worker and is dedicated to her sport and team. Olivia leads by example, is always willing to help and teach her teammates, and is incredibly humble.”

Stammen went on to talk about how humble White is.

“Honestly, I do not believe that Olivia would have done so well if the relay team hadn’t gotten the alternate spot into the finals,” Stammen said. “Those girls are her best friends, and she is so humble. She does not like to be in the limelight and constantly shifts the attention back over to the other girls and their achievements or their team as a whole.”

All of the 16 teams in the finals competed and no alternates were needed, so Eatonville’s relay team did not get to race.