Liberty girls win state swimming championship

Abby Russell and Belle Wong bring home individual titles.

The Liberty High School girls swim team won the 4A state meet Nov. 12 at King County Aquatics Center in Federal Way. Two individuals and a Patriots relay team brought home state championship medals from the event.

In total, the team scored 322 points, beating second-place Port Angeles by more than 60 points.

Junior Abby Russell said her 200-yard individual medley win at 2:05.90 was unexpected.

“It came to the last 50 (yards) of freestyle,” she said. “That’s usually when it’s determined whether or not someone wins. So I was like ‘Just give it your all.’ So I swam as fast as I could.”

Senior Belle Wong won state in the diving event with scoring 338.80.

According to Wong, her last three dives “went flawlessly.”

“During warm ups I was so nervous, I was all over the place,” she said. “I got a pep talk from my coach and he said, ‘Don’t worry. It’s senior year. Your body knows what to do.’ So I listened to the coaches and I listened to myself and went for it.”

Russell returned to the top step with teammates sophomore Chloe Weber, sophomore Reegan Weber and senior Sydney Hartford after winning the 200 free relay in 1:39.45, less than a second ahead of North Kitsap.

“We wanted to go fast for Sydney because it’s her last race as a senior,” said Weber.

Reach reporter Leah Abraham at 253-678-3148.

Liberty girls win state swimming championship
Liberty girls win state swimming championship
Liberty girls win state swimming championship
Liberty girls win state swimming championship