Well, not this time...

Todd Beamer took second, 164.5 points to West Central District swimming and diving champion Gig Harbor's 211.5, Saturday at Rogers High School in Puyallup.

Oh well.

Because it is the next time that matters the most. Sure, it's nice to win districts, but the big stuff happens the weekend after next, at the King County Aquatic Center February 21-22 at state.

Like the hokey pokey, that's what it's all about.

"I'm hoping state," said Sue Bergman, the Titans' head coach, whose team she said improved from barely cracking the top 10 at districts last year and not even being a team of the top 10 at state last year. "It would be our best shot at it this year. I have a great group of boys and they just have to put it out there."

This is Beamer's year, besides Thomas Jefferson's junior Jordan Gaspay, who swam to fifth place for his school at districts, going a 1:03 -- two seconds better than his same finish last year in the 100 breast. And Tanner Brotherton for Decatur will swim at state in the 100 free, going a 49.89 for fourth place at districts.

And Brotherton and Noah Johnson of the Gators took fifth and sixth, respectively, in the 50 free in 22.85 and 22.95. Sean Sobus took eighth in the 200 free so he will see state, too.

Beamer pretty much stole the show. Besides that, the Titans will be eying big things from here on out.

Eying what? History.

If the boys swim team wins state, it will the school's first ever state championship in any sport.

The closest the Titans have come is the girls soccer team, which took second, losing to Eastlake, 1-0, in overtime, in 2007 in the state championship.

Max Vukas, a Beamer boys swim team captain, did not qualify for events for state but he has seen a lot in his time at Beamer.

"I've been at Beamer four years, since we won our first meet in league (SPSL South) when I was a freshman," said Vukas, whose team made a little history a couple weeks ago by winning the South Puget Sound League meet, where the North and South battle it out.

Curtis has won it 19 times since 1985, including the last four straight years, according to Vukas.

But that was nice, and districts would have been nicer. But that's not been the plan since the season began for this high-goal group of guys.

"We plan to win state," said Vukas.

Listening nearby was Jade Feigert, who is someone who is in the same shoes Vukas was in four years ago -- a freshman on the team. Feigert, who swims for King Aquatics and is a senior tier swimmer though young in age and was a national best in the 100 breast last year as an eighth grader, clarified what Vukas said with authority.

"We don't plan to win state," said Feigert, not done with the sentence, "We will win state."

Feigert, at state, swam on two third place relay teams but did not have his best race in the 100 breast.

"I took 12th," said Feigert, adding, "I was not with it today for some reason. I don't know. I have already qualified for state before districts."

Feigert swam during the season in a dual meet a 1:03 time so his 1:06 tepid display at districts was not a big deal. Especially since what really counts is state. That is the meet everyone remembers.

Last year's Beamer team was a lot different than this year's team. Leading the charge could be Shane Clare, a senior captain who took third place at state last year in the 200 individual medley. He won the 200 IM at districts last Saturday, going a 1:58.85.

The next closest swimmer, from South Kitsap in the Port Orchard area, swam a nearly full four seconds slower in 2:02.84.

Clare's a year aged, more mature this time around coming into the grand dance of high school swimming.

And that makes him ready for a higher placement, not to mention his hard work in the pool for his club team, King Aquatics, that practices a ton weekly -- make that daily.

"I practice afternoons for three hours seven days a week," said Clare.

All that work has Clare going for the gusto.

"I hope to win state," said Clare, who holds a 3.6 g.p.a. despite swimming seven days a week and, to add, he's in that water afternoons into the evening, because he's waterbound for three and a half hours, he said.

That's a lot of time and it shows with his ability to be a favorite for his best event, the 200 IM, but there's more. There are more swimmers that will add to the weaponry of Beamer this season.

Cole Um is a good relay guy for the team, and then there is Bart Wanot. He's good. How good?

"You're going to win state," said Um, who took eighth at districts in the 100 butterfly followed by teammate Dylan Chase, 9th (first in the consolation top 8 round).

Wanot, a junior, just kind of smiled.

"I don't know," said Wanot.

"No, you are going to win," said Um, adamantly.

"I haven't even swam yet," said Wanot, questioningly.

Ah, being humble, that is what Wanot was being because he is ranked ninth in the nation in time in the 100 breaststroke or butterfly, one of those strokes, and, that's only half the story. Wanot is also ranked 11th in the 100 backstroke.

In the nation. Catch that. Not in the state. In the nation of 50 states. No. 9.

So, Wanot is the favorite in the 100 back, which he won at districts easily with a minute time around, and he also swam the 50 freestyle -- not winning it, but not losing it either.

He tied Tyler Kaslik of Gig Harbor, the same school the last two seasons that has beaten the Beamer girls out for the district title. So beating them in state could be what happens, and how sweet that would be.

Wanot will be a big part of that proposed success. Wanot is a junior this season at Beamer, and, has attended Beamer as a freshman and a sophomore. But he did not swim. Wanot was concentrating on his club swimming for King and going off to regional swimming meets around the United States.

Both Clare and Wanot are national labeled swimmers, which is one step below the ones that swim in the Olympic trials. Feigert is one climb from the national level, too. So even though losing Clare will not be a good thing for next season, those two -- Feigert and Wanot --should still keep Beamer pretty powerful in boys high school swimming.

Feigert, too, was not afraid to let that fact be known. Not only was he confident of Beamer's state championship winning chances this season, he followed that thought by saying, "And we will do it again next year and the year after that."

Feigert is good now. His achievements before high school say that. But what did Clare have to say about Feigert's future of wanting to go to the Olympics?

"That's his aspirations, that's a good goal," said Clare.

Wanot's name was mentioned next for the Olympics.

"I think Bart has a really good chance of it," said Clare.

And, to Feigert's defense, Clare did say, "I don't see Jade at practice. He is in a different group. Bart and I are in the national group and Jade's in the senior group, one down."

So, districts?

Sure, it's nice to win the thing, but the big thing is up next and Wanot made an admission of what he, Clare and Feigert did that same day before swimming at districts.

"We practiced this morning before districts for our club team," said Wanot of what is something that swimmers do not do before swimming at state in the finals.

Finals day is for rest that day and when Wanot, Clare and maybe Feigert swim in the finals (top eight swimmers) they will be showing just how much time they can drop from districts.

"We're all just waiting for taper week," said Wanot.

Taper week is where they shave their legs and rest up for the big state gig.

So what then?

"So we can bust out our best times," said Wanot.

Wanot not only will likely bust a big move in the 100 back, but he as well will really break out likely in the 50 free. He did go a 21.86, tying Kaslik of Gig Harbor. But he was not rested, not tapered for districts.

"I have gone a 21.00,' said Wanot.

So, two firsts at state, Bart?

"That's what I plan to do," said Wanot.

And that is only the swimming portion plans, so to speak, for Beamer, as Bart's brother is Ludomir Wanot, and, he took ninth at state last year despite what Ludomir admitted could have been a higher finish.

"I blew a dive," said Ludomir.

This year Ludomir just finished winning districts in diving, scoring 400 points, eclipsing last year's point total by 25 some points.

"I am going to win it this year," said Ludomir, a senior. "I am trying to beat Tommy's record of 440."

"Tommy," is Tommy Fraychineaud, who's dad, John, taught diving for the Federal Way School District but just took a job in Alaska. Fraychinaeud received a scholarship to Stanford, 75 percent paid, according to Wanot.

Wanot gets good coaching from Kelly Robertson, who took over for John Fraychinaued.

"She's helping a lot," said Ludomir. "She was a silver medalist in the Olympics. She knows everything. She is a huge help."

Ludomir also is a good swimmer and he will not only dive for a championship but could be on a relay winner too.

"Swimming and diving," said Ludomir. "That would be cool to get gold medals (first places) in both. And, my brother's best, too."

Wanot is not only planning on winning his events, but in so doing, speaking of Bart, he will be after the coveted award given to the best swimmer at state.

"Swimmer of the Year," said Wanot.

Comeback of the year may go to Gaspay, of TJ, as the Raider was out with a hurt, broken shin for six months prior to this season. He just came back the start of the season from the layoff and just got right back to state form, showing his abilities.

And Gaspay is only a junior. "He came limping into practice the first day (of the high school season), " said Wendy Neely, who coaches along with her husband, Malcolm. "His desire is strong. He really wants to do well."

Gaspay holds a 3.9 g.p.a., too, doing the intensive International Baccelaureate program, known as I.B. So there's a lot going on for this young man. Gaspay has had to compensate for his injury happening early summer.

"Because his leg was not as strong, it was really important that he kept his hand speed up," said Neely. That means, according to Neely, that Gaspay had to concentrate on his pace as well as hand speed.

Besides Gaspay individually, the Raiders' Reid Mayfield, Jason Kim, McKay Owsley and Gaspay swam to 12th at districts, making the consolation finals.