Lake Oswego, St. Mary's eye Jesuit run

After three straight titles by Jesuit and more than two decades away from the top step on the finals podium, the Lake Oswego girls swim team might be the team to beat as the state championships approach.

With all three relay teams qualified - two of them seeded first, and a 1-2 combination in the 500 yard freestyle, the Lakers are ready to win their first title since 1990.

St. Mary’s has the same goal, and an even longer wait to overcome - 1988. The Blues have also qualified three relay teams and have a solid individual crew.

Jesuit qualified all three of its relay teams and has 11 individual qualifiers, which won’t make a title run by Lake Oswego or St. Mary’s an easy one.

A win by the Lakers would be an amazing turnaround from a year ago when the team finished 13th and no one placed higher than fifth in an individual event. The team’s revival can be traced to the Lake Oswego Swim Club and sophomore Sarah Kaunitz.

Kaunitz is the top qualifier in the 200 individual medley and also the 100 breaststroke, with senior Catherine Yee seeded second. Neither competed for Lake Oswego at state last year.

St. Mary’s senior Elena Basada is seeded first in the 100 backstroke and second in the 200 IM.

Jesuit ran away with the meet last year, outscoring second-place Southridge 183-118. St. Mary’s finished fifth with 84 points. Lake Oswego scored 41 points.

The Crusaders graduated several seniors, but still have a solid roster led by senior Kori Carpenter, who qualified third in the 200 freestyle and junior Blaise Wittenhauer-Lee, who qualified first in the 500 freestyle.

Jesuit finished second or third in all three relays last year, but that role might be one for the Lakers this season.

David Douglas and Newberg also qualified all three of their relay teams.

Century freshman Ellie Thornbrue qualified first in two events and classmate Logan Neal qualified first in one and fourth in another to give the Jaguars a solid shot at a top-4 finish - likely the first of a long run.