As Inglemoor High’s 200-yard medley relay foursome strode up to the starting blocks, it meant business. One guy swung his arms through the air while the others all had their game faces firmly intact.
The Vikings were set to make their mark in the opening event of last Saturday’s 4A state meet at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.
And Craig Olynyk, Jonas Friederick, Kyle Komlodi and Michael Postetter gave it their all and finished third in 1 minute, 40.43 seconds to give their team a crucial early push for a title. However, third place was where the Vikings remained at the end of the evening with 173 points behind winners Shorewood (194) and second-placers Gig Harbor (179).
“We work really well together as a team, I think. Jonas isn’t even from the country,” Komlodi said of the squad and German exchange student Friederick. “We all came together and kind of bonded. We all kind of did our best strokes and did the best we could, and we all pulled through at the end.
“For us to go from eighth (seed) to third is a pretty good move.”
Komlodi had the 200-yard freestyle consolation heat on his plate following the relay, but focused on the task at hand.
“Well, I knew it was gonna be a little tough because I had the 200 free right after. (The relay) was our best shot at a medal, and I decided to put all our money on that,” said Komlodi, who finished 10th in the 200 free. “I think we did really well and we ran right next to our best time.”
The Vikings also took third in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:29.63) with Olynyk, Friederick, Carl Olsson and Postetter on board.
In individual action, Olynyk and Komlodi placed third and fourth, respectively, in the 100-yard backstroke (an ultra-close Vik finish of 53.33 and 53.34) and Olsson snagged seventh in the 100-yard freestyle (50.24).
On the 1-meter diving front, Spencer Moore took fifth with 335.15 points and climbed five places from last year’state performance.
“At first, I wasn’t expecting it because I kind of blew a few dives, but coming in (to the final) seventh and moving up to fifth feels pretty good,” Moore said after his final three dives on Saturday. “I just kind of focus on my last three dives and make sure I get them in the best I can. I just try to tune everything out, just try to block all the noise, focus on the next dive and relax.”
Zen-like focusing and new-age music is not Moore’s modus operandi, however.
“Techno (music),” Moore said of his tunes of choice. “Between each dive, I just sit down and just put on the iPod and wait for my next dive to come up.”
The right food might help along the way, as well, Moore said with a smile and noted that his pre-meet meal at Magic Dragon in Canyon Park is always a treat.
Although he stayed up late following Friday’s first round, he spent time reflecting on that day’s dives and was refreshed heading into the final three.
“I just kind of took it like a regular day, I didn’t really do anything special about it,” Moore said.
In the end, a fifth-place finish on the board and third-place team showing surely made for a pretty eventful day.
