The Lake Washington boys swim team has made great strides recently. The team placed a relay group in the state meet last season and the Kangs are riding that wave of positive momentum into this season.

“It was the first time in many, many years that a relay from the men’s team qualified for state,” said Lake Washington assistant coach Michelle McRae.

McRae is entering her fourth season as an assistant coach with the team. Head coach John van Velthuyzen is entering his fifth.

The Kangs have three returning state swimmers from last season: John Tupper, Josh Erickson and Hayden Hurley. All three teamed with graduated Derek Pronk to form a 200 medley relay team that competed at the 4A state meet.

“I think it did contribute to some of the more dedicated energy with the team right now,” McRae said. “It does help when they get to see that highest level and swim there.”

Erickson will be a strong sprinter and good in the 50 free race for the team. Erickson qualified for districts in the 50 and 100 freestyle races in Lake Washington’s first meet on Dec. 11 against Inglemoor.

Hurley’s versatility will be an asset to the Kangs. Hurley competes in both swimming and diving. McRae said she wouldn’t be surprised if he made district cuts in both. He has already qualified for districts in the 100 freestyle.

Senior Carl Walsh is a co-captain and one of the Kangs’ best swimmers. McRae said he’s especially good at “anything with a little bit of distance in it.”

Walsh qualified for districts in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly against Inglemoor.

A big part of the senior leadership will come from Tupper, James Gray and Mason Morgan. All three have been captains either last season or this season and all have been in the program since their freshman year (McRae’s first with the team).

“They’ve been great guys to have all four years,” McRae said. “They’ve all been major team leaders and very dedicated.”

Lake Washington’s top diver at the Inglemoor meet was freshman George Meier.

Another impact newcomer is freshman swimmer Alex Coffee. McRae said Coffee’s year-round swimming experience will make a huge difference for the team. Coffee, Issac Smith and Walsh (before this year) are the team’s only swimmers with year-round experience.

Junior Peter Loft is also making strides and will be a big part of the team. Loft is swimming competitively for the first time.

The Kangs sustained a couple of tough losses when Pronk graduated and state diver Alex Schacht moved away from Washington, but McRae said the team has the athletes to overcome the losses. Hurley and Meier will form a strong diving group.

Lake Washington lost its first meet to Inglemoor, but with five members of the team swimming district-qualifying times, McRae said the team sees it as a success.

The Kangs swim next at Woodinville on Dec. 16.