The Auburn Riverside 200-yard freestyle relay team qualified for the state 4A boys swimming and diving championship with a fifth-place finish at the West Central District meet at Curtis High School last Saturday.

The Ravens squad – seniors Michael Baber and Mitch Bredl and juniors James Marshal and Daniel Waller – posted a 1-minute, 36.25-second time to snag a berth to state.

Auburn Riverside coach Patrick McKeehan praised his swimmers’ performance.

“They just had a great mindset,” he said. “They were excited to be there. They wanted to perform well and they did. They were excited at the opportunity to go to state, and they really came together at the right time with the right attitude. They work really hard. They’re real fun to coach.”

Although the 200 free relay was the only event the Ravens qualified for state, McKeehan said the 400 free relay team – which set a school-record time of 3:33.77 in the district finals – is a wild-card nominee with an outside chance of making it to state in the event of a lane vacancy. Wild-card teams with the fastest times earn berths until the lanes are filled.

The Ravens’ 400 relay team is comprised of Baber, Bredl, Marshall and junior Matty Benabid.

For Baber, who swims on the 200 and 400 free relay teams, set a school record in the 200 free at district (1:55.27), despite not qualifying for state in the event.

The Ravens’ performance at district is a culmination of hard work put in during the past four years, Baber said.

“I was really surprised that we made it to state,” he said. “I knew we were good, but I didn’t know we were that good. I was really surprised when we broke the 400 record. That came from out of nowhere. I think it’s because of everybody who works hard at practice, which makes everybody else feel like they need to work hard at practice.”

Regardless of the team’s performance at the upcoming state meet, McKeehan said he feels that the season has been a success.

“It’s been a really great season. They’ve got great attitudes. They work hard and like to compete. They really get into the team aspect of it.”

The state meet is Feb. 17-18 at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

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BELOW: From left, Michael Baber, Andrew Ridge, Matt Benabid, Tristan Naranjo, James Marshall, Mitchell Bredl, Thomas Henline and Daniel Waller. Shawn Skager, Auburn Reporter