Vladyslav Danylyuk knows the challenge that awaits him at the state swimming meet.
The 3A classification posts some of the best times in the state, but the Prairie senior is ready to meet the challenge.
Danylyuk won the 100-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke, as well as helping Prairie to wins to two relays on Saturday at the 4A/3A District 4 meet in Kelso.
“I didn’t fully taper or swim for this meet, but I was pretty close to my (personal records),” Danylyuk said. “The goal was to win my events, so that’s good. The focus is on next week.”
Danylyuk won the 100 freestyle by nearly four seconds, finishing in 48.90 seconds. He won the 100 backstroke in 54.15 seconds, more than five seconds better than the runner-up.
He expects to go much faster this weekend at state with the faster competition.
“There were some good swimmers here, but for myself personally I didn’t really have anyone pushing me in the back half of the race,” Danylyuk said. “Like looking at my splits, my back end was where I was lagging.”
Danylyuk is seeded 14th in the 100 free at the 3A state meet, and seventh in the 100 backstroke. He is aiming for top-5 finishes in both events.
In the 4A meet, Owen Robertson also breezed to easy wins in the 200 freestyle (1:44.64) and 500 freestyle (4:56.03). At state, he is seeded seventh in the 200 free and sixth in the 500 free.
“At state, I’m going for personal records,” Robertson said. “In the 200 freestyle, that would be 1:42, and in the 500 freestyle, that’ll be 4:47 or lower.”
In the 4A breaststroke, Camas’ Tenzin Kelsang is seeded eight at state, followed by teammate Owen Yam.
In the 2A state meet, Colin Graeme of Seton Catholic is seeding seventh in the 50 free and eighth in 100 butterfly. Lincoln Swift of Ridgefield is seeded sixth in the 500 free.
Ridgefield’s 200 medley is the No. 6 seed, and Hockinson’s 200 free relay is also the sixth seed.
All-League teams
The 4A Greater St. Helens League has released their all-league teams for every winter sports except boys swimming.
Ethan Harris of Camas was selected as the 4A GSHL boys basketball player of the year and offensive player of the year.
Brooklynn Haywood is the 4A GSHL girls basketball player of the year, and Sophie Buzzard of Camas is the defensive player of the year.
Mason DesRochers of Skyview was named the boys wrestling of the year, and Janessa O’Connell of Union was the girls wrestling of the year.
And Maya Richardson of Camas was selected as the gymnast of the year.
The 3A GSHL has released all-league teams for wrestling and bowling.
Rylan Reinebach of Mountain View was the boys wrestler of the year, while Leah Wallway was the girls wrestler of the year.
Izabella Hewes of Prairie was named the 3A GSHL bowler of the year, and Abigail Mendoza of Prairie was selected as the 3A/2A GSHL gymnast of the year.
All-league teams that have been received are available for viewing on The Columbian’s high school sports blog, which can be found at 360preps.com or blogs.columbian.com/high-school-sports. All-league teams are posted when received from the league.
All of the all-league teams will be published in the print edition of The Columbian when all of the teams have been released by the leagues.
Kizer honored by coaches association
Steve Kizer of Skyview has been honored as the WIAA District 4 head coach of the year by the Washington State Football Coaches Association.
Kizer, who announced his retirement as Skyview’s coach after 21 seasons, led the Storm to an 8-4 season and advanced to the 4A state quarterfinals.
Kizer, 65, finished with a career record of 149-70 with the Storm.
Keith Ross of Sumner was selected as the WSFCA state head coach of the year after leading the Spartans to the 4A state championship. Mike Crotty of O’Dea was the assistant coach of the year.
Chuck Keplar of Evergreen was selected as the District 4 freshman/middle school coach of the year.
The winners of coaching honors were selected by their coaching peers and confirmed by the WSFCA Executive Board.
The winners will be recognized at a ceremony during the WSFCA/Glazier Coaching Clinic on Friday, Feb. 21 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Renton.
