Eatonville Swim Reclaims Its Crown at “Queen of the Woods”
- Skip Smith
- 1 hour ago
- 4 min read
It was a demanding week in the pool for the Eatonville Cruiser girls swim team, one that tested their endurance and highlighted their championship spirit.
The Cruisers faced back-to-back meets, starting with a tough road loss to Steilacoom on Thursday before bouncing back in dominant fashion to capture the team title at their own “Queen of the Woods” invitational on Saturday.
On Thursday, Eatonville fell 98–82 to a deep Steilacoom squad, but the final score did not tell the full story.
“Despite Steilacoom’s much larger team, which allows for more depth, the Cruisers kept the Sentinels on their toes throughout the meet,” head coach Andrea Stammen said. “The lead traded hands many times before Steilacoom ultimately pulled ahead.”
The close meet produced a wave of standout performances for Eatonville, including several season-best times and a new district qualifying mark from senior Nicole Tomyn in the 50 freestyle.
Tomyn’s sprint earned her one of four Cruiser wins on the day, joining Charlotte Stumph, Annika Howard, and the 400 free relay team of Lily Hays, Stumph, Tomyn, and Howard.
Eatonville Event Winners vs. Steilacoom:
200 Free – Charlotte Stumph (SR)
50 Free – Nicole Tomyn (SR) (New District Qualifying Time)
100 Fly – Annika Howard (SR)
400 Free Relay – Hays (JR), Stumph (SR), Tomyn (SR), Howard (SR)
While the scoreboard favored the Sentinels, Stammen said she was proud of her team’s fight.
“Our girls raced with heart from start to finish,” she said. “They never backed down. Meets like this build confidence going into the postseason.”
Two days later, the Cruisers turned the page and made a statement in front of their home crowd at the second annual Queen of the Woods Invitational, outscoring the competition by a wide margin to reclaims its crown at “Queen of the Woods.”
Eatonville finished with 364 points, far ahead of Graham-Kapowsin (188), Bethel (133), and Spanaway Lake (68).
The meet, hosted by Eatonville, brought together swimmers from across the Bethel School District for what Stammen described as “a friendly competition that celebrates sportsmanship, community, and speed.”
The day began not with a whistle but with music and laughter. All teams shared a combined warm-up that included line dancing and swimming together, a lighthearted tradition that set the tone for the day. Seniors from all four schools were also honored in a mid-meet ceremony.
“The goal of this event is to strengthen the bonds between our teams and give swimmers a chance to shine in front of their friends and families,” Stammen said. “It’s competition, but it’s also connection.”
Once the races began, Eatonville made it clear who ruled the pool. The Cruisers claimed victory in 10 of the 11 events, sweeping both the 200 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke with 1–2–3 finishes.
Senior captains Annika Howard, Charlotte Stumph, and Nicole Tomyn led the charge, each capturing double Queen titles in their respective events.
Howard, last year’s “Queen” in both the 200 IM and 100 Fly, successfully defended her crowns and set faster times in both races. Stumph earned top honors in the 200 Free and 500 Free, while Tomyn claimed the 100 Free and 100 Back titles.
“The girls were electric,” Stammen said. “They came into this meet hungry and determined, and it showed in every race. Our seniors really set the tone. They led with poise, passion, and pride.”
Freshman Grace King had a breakout performance, winning the 100 Breast and helping secure a 1–2–3 Cruiser finish alongside Jane Morrish and Clara Forsman.
Eatonville also swept both freestyle relays and opened the meet with a victory in the 200 Medley Relay.
Eatonville Event Winners — Queen of the Woods 2025:
200 Medley Relay – Tomyn (SR), King (FR), Frey (FR), Forsman (FR)
200 Free – Charlotte Stumph (SR) (1–2–3 Cruiser finish)
200 IM – Annika Howard (SR)
100 Fly – Annika Howard (SR)
100 Free – Nicole Tomyn (SR) (1–2 Cruiser finish)
500 Free – Charlotte Stumph (SR)
200 Free Relay – Frey (FR), Stumph (SR), Forsman (FR), Howard (SR)
100 Back – Nicole Tomyn (SR) (1–2 Cruiser finish)
100 Breast – Grace King (FR) (1–2–3 Cruiser finish)
400 Free Relay – Hays (JR), Stumph (SR), Tomyn (SR), Howard (SR)
The team’s dominance earned Eatonville the Queen of the Woods team trophy for the second straight year.
When the final race ended, the celebration continued poolside with a potluck lunch shared among all four teams and their families, a reminder of the meet’s spirit of community.
“It was such a special day,” Stammen said. “The competition was fierce, but the sportsmanship and camaraderie were even stronger. That’s what makes this meet one of our favorites every year.”
The Cruisers will close out their regular season on Thursday, Oct. 23, hosting Foss at 3:30 p.m. The meet will also serve as Senior Night, honoring Stumph, Howard, and Tomyn for their leadership and contributions to the program.
“It’s going to be an emotional night,” Stammen said. “These seniors have poured their hearts into this team for four years. We’re excited to celebrate them and hopefully send them off with one more win.”
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