Seahawks Swim Team Sees Success at State Meet

Peninsula junior Jonah Bergerson (100-yard backstroke) and sophomore Zachary Ruckle (1-meter diving) both took fourth place in their respective events and the Seahawks boys swim team finished in 16th place at the WIAA boys state swimming and diving championships Feb. 15 through 17. It was the first time in 10 years the Peninsula boys swim team put someone on the podium at the state meet.

Bergerson finished his final race in 51.63, which would have been a new Peninsula boys swim record had he not broken it the day before swimming the same event in 51.31 to qualify for the finals. The 14-year-old school previous record in the 100-yard backstroke was 52.2.

“I’m so incredibly proud (of Bergerson),” said first-year coach Athena Petterson. “To see him on the podium today is an inspiration to us all.” Bergerson also took 12th place (22.25) in the 50-yard freestyle race.

Ruckle scored 273.90 points to earn the fourth-place spot in the diving competition. He was the first Peninsula diver to make the podium since 2018. With two years left of high school Ruckle is expected to jump in standings in the following years. Gig Harbor High School sophomore James Ferrier took second in the event scoring 297.35.

The 200-yard medley relay team of Bergerson, Tyler Givot, Ethan Berard and Aidan Miller took 13th place, finishing the finals in 1:42:37. The 400-yard freestyle relay team made up of Bergerson, Miller, Givot and Henry Moore ended up in 15th place with a 3:28:29 time.

“We had so much new blood on this team this year and their hearts were all the way in it,” Petterson said.

Caleb Riggs was the last Seahawk swimmer to make it to the podium at the state meet back in 2014.