PHS Swimmer Bergerson Breaks Three School Records Over State Championship Weekend

A team like this sets the tone for the future.”

Peninsula High School senior Jonah Bergerson may not be walking out of the King County Aquatic Center as a state champion, but he did something just as memorable: rewriting the Peninsula record books in his final high school meet. Over the course of 24 hours, Bergerson set three school records — technically four, since he broke one twice.

Bergerson’s standout performance came in the 100-yard butterfly, where he took second place with a school-record time of 49.77 seconds, shaving 0.19 seconds off the mark he had set just the day before in the prelims. It was the fourth time he broke his own 100-fly record since the Jan. 15 dual meet against Gig Harbor.

He followed up that performance with another school record in the 100-yard backstroke, placing third in the finals with a time of 51.23, more than a second faster than his prelim swim and narrowly beating the previous record of 51.33.

Bergerson’s record-setting streak wasn’t limited to individual events. On Friday, he led off the 200-yard freestyle relay in prelims, blazing through his 50-yard leg in 21.25 seconds — fast enough to break Peninsula’s 50-yard freestyle record by 0.11 seconds, a record that had stood since 2010.

“Of course, I wanted to break those records,” Bergerson said after the state championships. “But I was really focused on improving my times, and that was a great way to end my senior year.”

Both the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke were won by 15-year-old freshman phenom Charlie Cancelmo from Seattle’s Lakeside High School. Bergerson, knowing he wasn’t the favorite to win, used that to his advantage. “I knew I didn’t have to try to swim for first place, so I went in with no nerves, which actually helped me,” said Bergerson, who will swim for the University of the Pacific in California next year. “Second and third place — I’m very happy with those placements.”

Seahawks head coach Athena Petterson, who led the boys team to runner-up finishes at the Puget Sound League and District III Championships, praised Bergerson and the team for their progress throughout the season.

“It was a rocky beginning, but we got it together,” she said. “A team like this sets the tone for the future (of Peninsula swimming). I couldn’t be prouder.”

Bergerson and fellow seniors Tyler Givot, Aiden Miller and Henry Moore wrapped up their high school careers at state, but Peninsula’s program looks strong for the future. State qualifiers Owen Moore, Zach Ruckle, Travis Buell and Brandon Plitkins will return next season, ready to build on 2025’s success.