Swimmers from Todd Beamer, Thomas Jefferson, Federal Way and Decatur spent time doing well in the water, going against each other and others from competing schools in the South Puget Sound League and Narrows League -- all for a right to go to state out of West Central District action at the Rogers Pool on South Hill Saturday Nov. 1.

The Titans narrowly lost last year to the Gig Harbor Tides in districts. And, the fifth-year local school this year finished the same way - second -- albeit by not as close a margin, 221-169, this time around. But that is all grand and good for Beamer, as consistency is a good thing and their first-year coach, Malcoln Neely, was not sure of that placement as the meet developed.

During the meet, he could be heard saying, “I don’t even know if we will get second.”

Well, the girls did, with strong enough races in the first 10 events to not even need to race in events 11 or 12 and still get one place away from first.

But district winning is not the same as, say, state winning, and Neely seemed to say his team has potential to learn more and therefore do more in the days in practice that lead up to the WIAA state meet this Saturday at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

And Neely was not even talking now about what can just be done at state. He was talking about what can be done down the line, in the future.

“When state’s over, we got some work to do,” said Neely, whose wife, Wendy, coaches the TJ girls and boys swim teams the last several years as well as the Marine Hills summer swim league program.

Work on what, coach Malcolm?

“Just everything,” he said.

What about now, though, right now, before the state meet?

“Concentrate on little things,” he said. “Finishes, starts, streamlines, relay exchanges, jumping off the blocks and trying to time it so you don’t leave too early or too late,” said Neely. “Some things you have to practice and practice.”

Streamlines? What’s that?

“It’s the position you go into to make yourself go faster through the water,” he said.

Neely knows a lot about swimming and the Titans just transitioned fine through the water this past season with his being coach now.

Malcolm’s wife, Wendy, had a lot of good times from her swimmers at districts. Her young freshman phenom, Amber Cratsenberg, had the best times, first in the 50 freestyle in 24.26. And the fact that is only the half of it,.She beat out former Olympian Megan Raines’ pool record of 24.29.

Cratsenberg’s been in the water a lot of years to explain her best of times.

“I started swimming when I was six with Marine Hills,” said Cratsenberg.

She has gone fast ever since, being dedicated, too, to year-round swimming -- which the best swimmers associate themselves with.

“I am focused on the fast races,” said Cratsenberg who also took third in the 100 free at districts here, going 52.54. That means she will be at state qualified in two events as well as helping her team to good relay finishes at the granddaddy event of high school swimming.

Added Cratsenberg, who is a sinewy, strong swimmer in physical form who has a pretty and big smile, “I am more of a sprinter and I like those races because they are really short.”

Cratsenberg used her breath-taking arm movements flashing through the water to beat out Decatur senior swimmer Briley Boggs’ 24.86, in the 50 free - an accomplished swimmer who all will hear about very shortly. Cratsenberg is undefeated thus far in SPSL and postseason meets in this race.

In the 100 butterfly, all hail Boggs. She has not lost that race in league and postseason (not counting state) in three years. She won it again this time, with a 56.83. So close, too, to breaking the WCD meet record.

“I know,” said Boggs. “So close to automatic (All-American time) too. I got my D-11 National cut time, too. I can’t believe I got that.”

The national cut time is 57.1, so Boggs shattered that one.

And, speaking of “shattered”, or impairment.

“I am coming off a back injury,” said Boggs. “I took two cortisone shots before this.”

One team that did not miss perfection in races was the Titans, who nabbed the 200 free and 200 medley relays at district. Eryn Murphy, Rachel Kim, Jenelle Freeborn and Jessica Soria went a sizzling 1:52.31 through the water in the opening race, the 200 medley, before Kim, Murphy, Soria and Kelly Erickson showed no mercy in the 200 free a little later in the meet, going a 1:40.99, breaking their own pool record set last year of 1:42.22. In the latter race, all four are underclassmen, so, all should be back next year to defend their title for a third straight year in that race.

Kim swam individually and did well for herself as did Murphy, who finished third in the 50 free in 25.24, just behind Boggs and Cratsenberg. Murphy also was fourth in the 100 free, which was a time of 54.36, one place behind Cratsenberg.

Kim’s best race is the 100 backstroke. She took second in it in 1:00.28. She was happy in the 200 IM, too, as she took third in it in 2:13.68.

“My best time by a second,” she said of the 100 back finish.

And, not leaving out Kim’s teammate, Erickson, who took fourth in 1:01.34 in the 100 fly and made the state cut time of 1:01.50. She was sixth in the 200 IM, too. And Kelsey Crowder of Decatur was fourth and will go to state with a 2:13.89 time, easily beating that cut qualification of 2:16.00. TJ also had Savannah Coe make it on to state in the 100 fly in 1:00.86. The Raiders’ relay team of Janice Huynh, Bailey Warrior, Coe and Cratsenberg made it in the 200 medley, with a 1:56.47 time for third, just two places behind Beamer, and the 200 free in 1:45.23 for fifth at districts.

So Cratsenberg is fast. That was mentioned to Wendy Neely and she shot back a couple things.

First she said, “Yeah,” acknowledging that obvious fact. And continuing on, she said, “My whole team is fast. They all had best times. I can’t be more excited.”

Federal Way coaches Carla Boone and Tammy Taylor were filled with excitement for their Eagles as well after a job well done at districts. The 200 and 400 free relays will go for the Eagles as well as Kaia Barth individually.

“It’s more than last year. We only had one relay,” said Boone, whose girls that make it on to state not yet mentioned are Kayla Ramey, Dalynn Wingard, Keely and Craig.

“Our team has a lot of drive,” said Boone.

Are the Eagles building some good things?

“We are,” said Boone.

“None are seniors,” said Taylor. “They’ve been together the last couple years.”

Russ Neal, coaching Decatur, thinks things are good for his team, too.

“We squeaked a relay into state, eighth,” said Neal, mentioning their eighth place finish in the 200 medley. The Gators dropped four seconds in that one, allocating themselves in.

“We are taking six girls to state. They are all really excited.”

Briley going to win state this time, not take fifth, fourth or fourth, like she’s done the previous three years at state?

“She’s looking pretty good,” said Neal.

Fast girls ahead of her?

“I don’t know, we’ll find out in a week, but not that I can see,” said Neal. “She’s definitely the fastest here.”

Girls are Boggs, Crowder, Anna Marie Ciotta, Lauren Englund, and two divers, Angela Hansen, second with 340.75 points in diving. That sophomore will be competing where she was last year, too. And, Jacqueline Robinson-Hamm took fifth with 211.50. Todd Beamer has a diver too going on, Elizabeth Wiley, and make that two -- Alyssa Kellar in 256.80.

The Titans missed being first at this district meet because of one thing -- depth. Gig Harbor had more swimmers than the Titans that got more points for places. Despite having won two relays, the Titans were not able to have enough swimmers in individual events. The Tides did not have any first places the whole meet, either.

“We just don’t have enough girls to spread them out,” said Neely. “We had a 400 free relay that could go under the state (qualification) time by three seconds.”

How good is Beamer for state for the relays?

“I don’t know, but top three I bet,” said Neely.