Hazen’s Kayla DiMicco is anomaly. The sophomore has qualified for the 3A state meet in four swimming events, and diving, putting her in rare air.

“I’m confident there’s no one in state who’s qualified for diving and an individual event one time,” said Hazen coach Rick Wertman. “To do it four times, it shows the quality of athlete she is.”

DiMicco got the postseason off to a great start, helping Hazen win a second straight Seamount League meet by taking two individual wins (100 fly and 200 free).

“It was super exciting,” DiMicco said. “To help the team take first for the second year in a row was great.”

After not diving at the league meet, she is excited to get back at it in districts Friday and Saturday. She will also dive at the state meet Nov. 10-12.

In addition to her competitors at state, DiMicco has the extra logistical challenges of being a swimmer and diver at the state meet. Wertman said the meet is not set up to help athletes to do both, with race and event times very close together.

“If the two were totally different and unrelated I could understand,” he said. “But they’re the same sport. So it doesn’t pay off to be the anomaly here.”

DiMicco takes the challenge of essentially practicing twice for two sports at once in stride.

“It definitely can be difficult,” she said. “But I have great coaches, which helps a lot.”

If forced to pick one, DiMicco would side with swimming, which she does year-round for the Issaquah Swim Team.

“I’ve dedicated a lot more time to swimming since I do it year-round,” she said. “Plus it keeps me in shape.”

Wertman said the great thing about DiMicco, who her fellow Hazen cheerleaders have dubbed “Sweetheart,” is her attitude.

“She’s the sweetest girl you’d ever want to meet,” he said. “She’s achieves what she does with intellect and toughness. She’s a student of the game … if she can wrap her mind around it, she’ll find a way to get there.”