There’s no rest for the weary if you’re Redmond High swim coach Julie Barashkoff.
Just days after nearly reaching the pinnacle of high school swimming by placing third at the Class 4A state meet with her star-studded girls’ team, Barashkoff was at it again, guiding the boys’ squad, a large, young group full of boundless energy and high hopes.
For the boys to duplicate the feat that the girls’ team accomplished earlier this month, however, it will take a little luck and a lot of work.
This year looks to be more of a rebuilding season for the Mustang boys’ squad, a team that just two years ago finished second at the state meet with 164 team points behind Snohomish, which lapped the field with 266.5 points.
“I think we have some pretty fast kids up at the top, but we’ve got not too many returners, maybe 12, and about 30 new kids,” Barashkoff said. “We have a lot of ninth graders, 16 of them, which will be good in the years to come. Right now we’re just doing a lot of rebuilding.”
Leading the way will be state qualifier Dylan Portelance, a senior who swam in the 200 medley relay, 200 free and 500 free events last year. Also returning will be senior Guillermo Romano, who swims in the relays and 100 fly. Portelance and Romano also combined to finish 1-2 in the consolation heat of the 200 free event at state last year.
The Mustangs have one of the state’s best divers in two-time runnerup Max Klassen, the favorite to win state this year since Bothell’s Ben Nicholas, who has edged Klassen for the gold medal two years in a row, graduated last year. Klassen is also a rarity in that he is a threat in the pool as well on the diving board, having been a part of both the 200 and 400 free relay teams.
With the new Kingco 4A alignments coming into play this season, Barashkoff knows that her goal of producing another state-contending team will be that much more difficult, especially against one program in particular that had more boys show up to the first swim team practice than Redmond had try out for its football team.
“Newport is going to be tough,” admitted Barashkoff, in her fifth year coaching the boys’ team. “They got second at 3A state last year, and they’re carrying about 75 guys this year. And Garfield is always fast.”
With so many new faces and names for the coaching staff to learn, the team’s overall ability at this point is uncertain at best, until some swimmers step up and prove themselves in the pool. For now, Barashkoff is content with setting up the program for success in the future, and this year’s excellent turnout was a fantastic start.
“My goal is to get these guys so interested in swimming that they come back next year,” said Barashkoff, as she pointed to an enormous group of new swimmers gathered on one side of the pool. “We were able to get 41 (tryouts), I’d like to start with at least this many next year, if not more.”
REDMOND SWIM/DIVE AT A GLANCE
• COACH: Julie Barashkoff, fifth season.
• LAST SEASON: 7-4 league record, 4th in 4A Kingco.
• 2008 TURNOUT: 41.
TOP RETURNERS
• Sr. Dylan Portelance: Three-time state qualifier specializes in freestyle distance events.
• Sr. Guillermo Romano: Key member of relay team looks to have solid year after qualifying for state in the 200-yard freestyle last season.
• Sr. Max Classen: Diving state-title favorite is a key member of the relay teams, which have a chance to place at state this year.
• Sr. Anton Osobov: Had breakout meet at the district meet last year. Has high goals for himself this season after extensive training during the off-season.
KEY NEWCOMER
• Kevin Crickmore: Transfer student from Colorado will bolster an already strong Mustang relay squad.
KEY MEET
• December 11 vs. Newport: Season opener against defending 3A runner-up will be a tough test and good marker of where the Mustangs stand in relation to elite competition.
DID YOU KNOW?
Coach Barashkoff previously coached swimming at Sammamish High School before taking her current post in 2004. During the day she can be found teaching physical education and aerobics at Redmond High with her husband Andre, who teaches U.S. History.
