November 2011
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INSIDE LOOK: Girls State Swim & Dive 2011
11/10/2011
WIAA Girls State Swim & Dive Championships 2011King County Aquatic Center, Federal Way
 Map & Directions
On Nov. 11-12, the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way will host the WIAA/Dairy Farmers of Washington/Les Schwab Tires Girls Swim and Dive State Championships.
This legacy venue opened for the 1990 Seattle Goodwill Games and also hosted the Olympic Diving Trials in 2000. The 2,500-seat facility maintains one of the most active competition schedules in the country, hosting more than 50 events annually. It has been the site of the Olympic Trials, top national and international competitions, and premiere Pacific Northwest events. The Aquatic Center will host the 2012 NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Swim and Dive Championships in March followed by the Olympic Diving Trials in June.
The state meet, previously held at the University of Washington, now provides room for nearly three times as many people. The King County Aquatic Center’s pool is Olympic size at 50m, providing eight lanes, which is equivalent to two short course facilities.
Bob Regan, tournament manager of 24 years, will again oversee the event which is in its 21st consecutive year at the Aquatic Center. Nearly 130 schools are represented and over 500 athletes will compete for the state championship.
“Athletes training for the Olympic Games in previous years went to California, Texas, or Florida to train," Regan said. "Now they can do that training right here in Federal Way."
Regan, the heart and soul of this event, has been involved with the state meet since 1947. A native of Seattle, his initial efforts involved announcing for the state meets while attending the University of Washington. Regan was the Aquatics Manager for King County at the time the Aquatic Center was being built in 1990. Regan managed the Weyerhaeuser facility until retiring in 2000; However, he continues to manage the state event.
Jeff Lowell has partnered with him in managing the meet since 2009. Lowell, Vice Principal at Interlake High School, works with entry procedures for the meet. Paul Torno, a retired educator from Bainbridge Island, has done the announcing for the state meet for six years now. Although he currently lives in New Mexico, he makes the trip up to the Pacific Northwest for the boys and girls state meets every year. Their teamwork creates a successful meet that has been the site for some incredible swimmers over the years.
“When national records are broken at the state meet it is very exciting to think that no other high school swimmer has gone faster, ever, at that time.” Regan said.
Only time will tell what kind of excitement this year’s meet will bring.
For more information visit: www.wiaa.com.
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