Cruisers Cap Strong Season at State Swim Meet

Eatonville High School made its presence known at the 2025 WIAA State Girls Swimming Championships, filling the King County Aquatic Center with loud cheers, nervous energy, and a whole lot of blue on November 14 and 15. The Cruisers brought their full roster and most of their families, turning the stands into a small Eatonville section as the girls posted some of their best swims of the year.

Eatonville High School's swim team posed for a photo prior to the start of the 2025 WIAA State Swim Championships. Team members and coaches from left to right: Head Coach Andrea Stammen, Riley Frey, Charlotte Stumph, Lily Hays, Clara Forsman, Amelia Palfernier, Grace King, Jaliah Vinson, Annika Howard, Nicole Tomyn, Assistant Coach Tira Hancock. Photo: Angie Tomyn

Annika Howard set the tone early. Howard came away with a personal record in the 100 breaststroke during Friday’s prelims, touching in 1:16.11 to earn the 13th seed for finals. She looked calm behind the blocks on Saturday, then tore through the water for a season best 1:15.15. The time pushed her up to 11th in the state, a two place jump in 24 hours and nearly a full second off her prelims mark.

Assistant coach Tira Hancock said Howard’s rise was the result of steady work and a steady mindset.

“Annika entered the state meet ranked 15th, surged to 13th in prelims, and delivered an incredible 11th place finish in the finals,” Hancock said. “She drew on every ounce of her mental and physical strength, dropping time week after week to peak when it mattered most. We are incredibly proud of Annika, her grit, her growth, and the powerful way she capped off an outstanding season.”

Nicole Tomyn followed with two solid freestyle races. She came into the meet ranked 21st in the 50 free and lowered her best to 27.16 in prelims, finishing 20th. In the 100 free, she matched her No. 18 ranking with a 1:00.98 and ended the night as the second alternate for finals.

Eatonville’s relays held their ground in deep fields. The 200 freestyle team of Forsman, Stumph, Howard, and Tomyn entered ranked 22nd and finished in the same spot with a 2:00.83. The 400 freestyle squad of Hays, Stumph, Tomyn, and Howard improved one position from its No. 20 seed, placing 19th in 4:28.50.

For Hancock and Head Coach Andrea Stammen, the results were satisfying, but the bigger story was the spirit the group brought to the deck.

“As coaches, Andrea and I are incredibly proud of our girls and the families who lifted them up every step of the way,” Hancock said. “Their hard work showed in every race, and their strong finishes at the state meet are proof of the dedication they’ve put in all season.”

The Cruisers left Federal Way without medals, but they left with something just as real: a season that ended at its absolute peak.