Kevin Munsch had a team to thank after this one.

Kennedy star swimmer Kevin Munsch and his relay teammates swam so good that even losing one of his two individual races was not worthy of keeping the senior from cumulatively smashing the competition and getting the Swimmer of the Meet honor, again,

And also excellent relays, to note, led to a Lancers' third-place team finish in the state 3A WIAA Dariy Farmers of Washington Swim/Dive Championships held at the King County Aquatics Center Feb. 15-16.

"I'm happy," said Lancers head coach Marc Stock, alluding next to the fact that even five years ago the Lancers were not a team swimming power, following, in fact, under the footprints of rival Mount Rainier, who won three consecutive 3A state titles 2003-2005 under Rick Wertman's great command. "We've come a long ways."

Munsch has gone the farthest, all-time wrapping up enough swim titles in relays and individual events that he's likely top 10 all-time on that list. He also has been co-winner or winner of the Swimmer of the Meet award the last three years.

Whatever anyone else did individually better than Munsch, and one swimmer in particular did do better individually than him, it would not be enough to stop Munsch from getting a swimmer of the meet repeat, or, three-peat, rather.

Why is that you ask? Why is it that someone else getting two firsts in individual events to Munsch's one first would give Munsch Swimmer of the Meet honors still?

Because of the company he keeps.

Relays were the key

Munsch took first in the 100 breaststroke in 58.57, but second, by a fingertip, in the 200 Individual Medley in 1:52.64 to the Lakeside winner's, 1:52.52. That second was a huge bummer for getting swimmer of the meet. Munsch was hoping to get it at that point, but not expecting it.

And, to note, there was a swimmer who took two firsts at this year's 3A state meet. Ethan Hallowell of Eastside-Catholic. But two things Hallowell was not a part of that Munsch was...two firsts in relays.

Team wins, in other words, did it for Munsch. What munched Hallowell were the Lancers' relay firsts that Hallowell's relays were a long ways back in, sixth in the 200 medley and 13th in the 200 free, the very two races Munsch and company were tops.

"It was hoped for," said Munsch. "I kind of wanted to get it, senior year and all."

You shared it last year.

"Yeah, I like sharing, I don't mind sharing," said Munsch. "I just didn't want to have nothing. I didn't want to go backwards."

So, the team did not let him down.

"I get really close with them (teammates). That's why I enjoy the relays the most," said Munsch. "I enjoy getting to help people on my team get better and go faster in a meet."

The Lancers won two of the three relay events, getting first in the 200 medley in 1:37.80, and, first, in the 200 free, in 1:27.71. Josh Kutz, Conner Johnson, Paul Jovanovich all contributed to the relay wins with Munsch. And, that team thing really is what did it for Munsch. The swimmer of the meet award comes, based on points, from a duo combination of things- own efforts, and team relay efforts.

It was a team effort unquestionably for the Lancers for why they followed up last year's second place finish with another good third-place finish, which, incidentally, follows the Kennedy girls winning the swimming state title last fall.

Why is Munsch so good?

Munsch loves swimming, he said he trains three hours per day weekdays, that's every day of the week, for those not doing the math. He does three hours more training on Saturdays and even on the day of rest, Sunday, he works a little, too, only one and a half hours that day.

"I felt I had the most potential for it," said Munsch. "I had the most passion for it."

Munsch, after he graduates next June, will then go to the University of Arizona next fall to compete on the current NCAA ranked No. 1 Division One collegiate swim team in the country right now. Arizona took third last year in the collegiate championships which come in March, but that's another story to be continued as we follow him in a quest to make the Olympic team. He's qualified in the 100 breast already and is shooting for the same in other events, like the 200 IM.

Munsch, in all likelihood, would have won the 200 IM, too, but he has been sick the last week and a half. He did not mention that fact of his loss in the 200 IM, however. But his coach did.

Did Munsch's recent sickness affect his winning the 200 IM, coach?

"Yeah, yeah, he had no chance," said Stock. "When he is ahead with 50 meters to go, he normally wins it."

Firing off the block in the 500 yard freestyle, going for a first, and getting it, was tMount Rainier Rams sophomore Mac Lowry. With a little improvement in the 200 freestyle (third in 1:44.67) and team relays improvement, it will be Lowry who will be getting 3A swimmer of the meet honors. Lowry crushed his competition for a nearly 12-second better time than second place in the 500 free final. His time was 4:35.04 and second touched at 4:46.88.

The best time ever in the event is only 10 seconds less, that is a lot of time but 500 yards is a long ways to go to drop time. Lowry could be looking at a state record shot before his time is up in high school swimming.

Does Lowry have it in him to drop 10 more seconds and set a Washington State all-time best record in the 500 free is a good question, and Rams head coach Omar Crowder had an answer for that.

"Of course,' said Crowder, adding, when asked what it will take for Lowry to become the very best, "Continue training the way that he has now."

How has Lowry developed to where he is besides dedicated year-round swimming for his club swim team, Salmon Bay, out of Seattle?

"He's just determined," said Crowder. "He is incredibly goal-oriented.."

Dropping that much time for Lowry was not supposed to be in the picture right now either.

"We talked about the possibility of him going that fast next year," said Crowder. "So we are a year early."

Said Lowry, who also has for many years now swam for Seattle Summer Swim League team, Olympic View, out of the Normandy Park area, "Better than I thought it would be."

"It's fun to see someone dominate the field," said Matt Jude, who swam well, too, in his events, and, both were together on the fourth place finishing Rams 400 free relay team, with teammates freshman Dillon Webster and junior L.J. Ester.

Jude, also a sophomore, took fourth in the 100 free in 47.85. He was seeded sixth coming in. He also took ninth (first in the consolation final) in the 200 free in 1:46.45.

Those two guys, Lowry and Jude, along with Curtis Strand, and Ester, took seventh place in the 200 free relay. That consortium of good, young swimmers on the aforementioned relays there and a good team concept could get the Rams right back up there in the overall standings of top finishers at state.

Jude saw the team trophy and said when talking about the Rams past state champion tradition, "I know, we were looking at the first place trophy and we saw all the Mount Rainier titles."

Their coach, Omar Crowder, has done great things in continuation of Wertman's success, winning Seamount League titles in both his years there now.

"He is great," said Lowry.

"He is a great teacher," said Jude. "And a great coach. He always has something great to say to us on the bus on the way home from a meet."

"Multiple motivational talks," said Lowry.

You guys have some talented sophomores in yourself and younger swimmers in Webster and older, but not yet graduating in juniors like Ester. That's a good base for a strong finish at state it sounds like next time around.

"It means future," said Lowry, asked of what a young team means. "It means you are going to be good for awhile.

Can you get another run going of some state championships? Not a real fair question but one that's asked since Rams have dominated in the past which now belongs to Mercer Island, who won this meet by 204 points over second-place Newport. MI repeated as champions, too.

"I think we can," said Jude.

Lancers Paul Jovanovich was good for seventh in the 100 free, and third in the 50 free in 21.73 and teammate Conner Johnson for fifth in the consolation finals (13th overall) in the 50 free in 22.91. Kutz, a junior, was second in the consolation final of the 100 free in 49.13. Ester, for the Rams, was eighth in the consolation finals of the 50 and 100 free in 23.38 and 50.87, respectively.

Freshman Troy Neklason took third for Highline in diving and sophomore Dylan Disler was 10th for Mount Rainier.

Said Rams diving coach Todd Wollenweber of Disler, "He did well and he is talking of diving year-round now, so that will be good."

One other good thing to mention is the swimming of the disability races and Neal Foster, who attends Highline. He did well just by getting to have fun competing in front of a big crowd at a big meet. Foster had a stroke when he was younger so it affects his coordination some. But he looked good in the water and raced a couple good races, third in the 50 backstroke and fourth in the 50 free.

"I enjoy swimming," said Foster. "My coach, Robin Hoof, asked me to swim. "I will keep swimming the best I can."

And come back next year in this big atmosphere again. To all this fun.

"Yes, it is fun," said Foster. "It has to be fun."