Dean Wong

Two Ballard relay teams and three swimmers qualified for state during a 97-89 loss to city rival Roosevelt

at the Queen Anne Pool on Friday. Ballard improved over last year's 54 point loss to the

Roughriders who have only lost one meet in 2005.

The 200 medley relay team of freshman Briana Meyer, sophomore Linnea Scott, junior Heather Stevens and senior Robyn Kaperak will go to state after recording a time of 1:57.96. This was a school record.

Stevens, senior Jennifer Jaeger, Meyer and Kaperak teamed up to record a time of 3:50.94 in the 400 free

relay to advance to state.

Kaperak qualified for state in the 50 free. Her time was 25.30. Kaperak added a school record in the 100

free. The record is now 55.23. Meyer will go to state in the 500 free. She swam a 5:19.44 race.

In the 200 IM, Scott broke the school record with a 2:13.52 time. She is also going to state in the event.

Ballard is now 4 and 5 for the season after starting the season with losses to state 4A champion Inglemoor,

Woodinville, Skyline and Garfield. They rebounded to defeat Redmond, Eastlake, Lake Washington and Bothell. As the season progressed, the team got better and learned how to win with confidence. They aiming at a winning season .

"Every meet we are in it. That's a new thing for us since we left Metro," said Head Coach Carlos Palacian.

Three Seattle schools have up and coming swimming teams. Besides Ballard, Garfield and Roosevelt have improved to the detriment of the eastsiders.

"That's good news for Seattle swimming," said Palacian.

"The girls are swimming well this year. They are finally not afraid of anyone. They think they can beat

anyone and are swimming like that," said Palacian.

The relay teams have won a lot of races as they racked up points for Ballard. Not only have the team's top relay combinations won meets, they second and third relay squads have also been victorious, often giving Ballard a first, second and third place points. He gives much credit to his second tier of swimmers.

"A lot of girls are not stars and are stepping up to the plate and keeping meets close. It feels like a team effort and is making an impact at meets," said Palacian.

The Ballard coach provided a list of swimmers who may not be the team's top athletes, but have contributed to its success by winning their races against other teams lower tier competition. The swimmers include: Jaeger, a senior captain; Erika Frederick, senior captain; Lindsay Brayman, junior; Amanda Takahashi, junior; Allio Boyer, junior; Cameron Cimball, sophomore and Stevens, junior. Some of these younger swimmers are challenging to be future performance leaders on the team.

"We're looking good and are on track for a winning season. It's a nice accomplishment since we have been in 4A," side Diving Coach David Dawson.

Two Ballard divers, Marit Mork and Maren de Vries competed at a KingCo district qualifying meet recently and are close to making the cut for post season action. They'll have another chance on Oct. 29 at another district qualifying meet.

Mork won the diving event against Lake Washington. It's only her second y year of diving.

"It makes me feel cool," said Mork on why she likes to dive. She is trying to overcome the mental aspect of the sport and find the courage to try new dives. De Vries is a rookie to diving. She tried out for the diving team because she wanted to do a fall sport. "I was already on the gymnastics team and knew about body awareness, it's a small advantage," said de Vries. Palacian says the team effort from his swimmers is making an impact at meets.

Ballard takes on Franklin on Oct. 18 and Juanita on Oct. 21, both meets are at the Queen Anne Pool and start at 3:30 p.m.