Area Sports by Michael Dashiell

Let the second season begin.

Sequim swimmers and lone varsity diver got their final tune-up before the West Central District meet on Oct. 23, earning a split with North Kitsap and Kingston.

The Wolves (4-4 in league, 5-4 overall) battled a tough and 30 member-strong NK Vikings squad to the end, finally falling 91-82 despite several strong swims from Rachel Hardy, Gianna Vennetti and the team's 200 medley relay team.

Hardy won the 50 free (26.98) and 100 back (1:16.6) while Vennetti splashed to a win in the 100 fly (1:09.25), a mark nearing the state-qualifying mark. Hardy and Vennetti joined Sarah Keltonic and Rachel Hughes to win the

medley relay in 2:17.7.

Also taking first in her first varsity meet was

diver Billie Jane Stone, who racked up 96.3 points.

Sequim's Louise Showers qualified for the district meet in the 200 free with a second-place finish in 2:33.5. Colsie Froerer and Kelsey DeWald each dropped at least 30 seconds from their

previous bests in the 500 free.

Meanwhile, Sequim topped the new, five-member Kingston squad, 123-37.

"Kingston does have a couple of strong swimmers on their team. I suspect (Kingston) will be a worthy opponent in a few years," Sequim coach Linda Bingler said.

Sequim gets a respite before taking on the region's top 2A swimmers at the West Central District meet at Olympic High School in Silverdale on Nov. 7-8.