As Redmond’s Ivan Graham and Eastlake’s Brandon Yue took their spots poolside for the start of the 100-yard butterfly, some of their teammates inched closer to the action about to unfold. “Let’s go, Ivan” and “Come on, Brandon” filled the air and the race began.
Graham and Yue whirled their arms and splashed them into the water while powerfully kicking their feet along the way. Cheers erupted from the teams and fans at Redmond Pool on Tuesday afternoon during the sixth event of the nonleague rivalry meet between 3A Redmond and 4A Eastlake.
The race was close, going down to the wire with Graham notching first and earning his first state-qualifying time of the season in 54.28 seconds. Graham was also victorious in the 100-yard backstroke in 57.38 during the meet, which Eastlake won, 110-76.
“I was focused on my underwaters, trying to keep my stroke together,” Graham, a junior, said of his fly race. “I was working hard, he (Brandon) pushed me harder.” The two boys have known each other for awhile and for a time competed for the same Issaquah club team.
Graham competed at state individually and with relays to cap off his freshman and sophomore seasons. Last year, he took third in the 100 fly (51.02), fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke (57.42) and swam on the sixth-place 200-yard medley relay (1:40.06) at the King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way. They are all school records.
The Mustang swimmer feels he and his teammates can tack on some more state times in the coming weeks. Upcoming meets are the league championships (Feb. 3-4), districts (Feb. 10-11) and state (Feb. 17-18). At press time, Graham’s 100-fly time is the team’s sole state mark.
Graham’s key to success: “You have to remember to not swim scared. It really hinders your ability to give it your all.”
Jason Fu was Redmond’s other winner against Eastlake with a time of 2:09.30 in the 200-yard individual medley.
Other top Redmond swimmers, according to coach Julie Barashkoff, are Ian Huang, Peter Fitch, Thane Suen and Erik Kvietkus.
Huang, a junior, qualified for state in the relays the last two years and wants another taste of the premier meet this time out.
“I need to work on my turns and push off stronger,” said Huang, noting it helps that the Mustangs support each other during meets.
He feels the 200 medley relay squad — consisting of himself, Graham, Fu and Suen — has a good shot at making state.
“I think we’re already pretty connected with our stroke and our hearts,” Huang said.
Bottom photos: Thane Suen, and Redmond High seniors honored at the meet — from left to right, Leon Lee, Michael Li, Montana Kottkey, John Carvalho, Karan Narula, Sasha Krassovsky and Erik Kvietkus.
Eastlake’s Nolan Van Nortwick swims to victory in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:02.40. He also won the 50-yard freestyle in 23.33.
Andy Nystrom, Redmond Reporter
