Kennedy took second as a boys swim team at state recently, as if we couldn't have guessed that the Lancers would score a high finish.

"We took fourth in '05, and third in '06," said Kennedy coach Marc Stock.

Just a natural progression it seems, as Lancers swimmers, led by co-swimmer of the meet Kevin Munsch, put together strong efforts -- though few in number -- at the WIAA Dairy Farmers of Washington Swim/Dive championships, at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way Feb. 16-17.

Was it a natural progression for Stock, though? "If you would have told me we were going to get second in the meet, I would have said, wow."

Well, hard to tell just what of that presumed surprise but the "wow" of the meet was definitely one swimmer from around here, Munsch. He swam to first in the 200-yard Individual Medley event in 1:51.33, well over two seconds ahead of second in 1:53.68. It was an Automatic All-American swim time for Munsch, his best of the season.

The meet record for the 200 IM is 1:50.43, so Munsch was close to that best-ever time, with the state record slightly lower at 1:49.30. The time of Munsch was good. He probably came in at ninth or 10th fastest all-time in the event in Washington state history.

Swimming a little later on in the 100 breaststroke, Munsch was going up against the 2005 state champion who did not swim the event last year. And guess who won last year, in 2006? Munsch.

So all eyes were set on these two, and suspense and anticipation was high for the many fans in the KCAC stands.

Both bolted off the blocks like barracudas set free, and each had won their other chosen race earlier in the meet. So, down to the wire, weaving, and a bobbing went the two, straight to the wall. And, Munsch...lost. Yes, Russ Mayan of Sammamish won, 55.91 to 56.16. It was twenty-five-hundredths-of-a-second close and both's times were exemplary. As far as historical high school swimming goes, their times were the second and third fastest times in the event in Washington state history.

The award to be given right after that Munsch-Mahan water battle was "swimmer of the meet.'" And, with Mahan winning the breaststroke to give him two state titles in individual events to Munsch's one, most thought Mahan would get the award. But the power points of high school swimming award more points to the 200 IM (Munsch's event) than Mahan's (50 freestyle). So the two dually accepted the award, smiling for the cameras.

Munsch is some swimmer on the Junior Olympic team, which has swimmers who are good enough for shots at the Olympic Trials. Munsch's 100 breast time is that good. Next August he will swim that event at the trials in Nebraska, with a shot to go to the Olympics in 2010.

So Munsch's happiest part of the meet would be getting co-swimmer of the meet and defending his 200 IM title? Right? Wrong.

"The team took second place. That is our highest finish ever. That is my happiest part of the meet," said Munsch.

So, next year, first?

"That would be nice to follow that pattern," said Munsch.

Fourth, third, second.... First. It's only natural, right? It's only likely too. Munsch is a junior, so he will be back. In fact the whole team at state for the Lancers this season will be back.

Backing Munsch with good finishes would be several including sophomores, Josh Kutz, Paul Jovanovich and junior Connor Johnson. Those four took first in the 200 medley relay in 1:38.79, a full two seconds ahead of second place O'Dea's 1:40.64. That group also took second in the 400 yard free relay.

Munsch was all about team, after getting his co-swimmer of meet award, after they took second in the final 400 free relay he was in, after everything.

The Lancers are young and did well as Jovanovich took eighth in the final of the 100 butterfly in 50.48, which was preceded by his fifth in the 50 free final in 21.82, just two-hundredths of a second from not just fourth but third as two tied for third place in 21.80.

Patrick Anderson, a senior at Highline, took first (ninth overall) in the consolation final of the 50 free in 22.60. And sophomore John Ester of Mount Rainier took fourth in the consolation final in 22.83. Ester's teammate, Matt Jude, a freshman, took first in the consolation final of the 200 free in 1:49.03.

Ester, Jude, along with sophomore Curtis Strand, and freshman Mac Lowry took seventh in the 200 free relay in 1:32.43. These guys also three upped that a little later, taking fourth in the 400 free relay final in 3:21.90. They were so close to being a lot higher. First was 3:21.17, then Kennedy was 3:21.46. Then third was 3:21.85.

"I'm kind of happy," said Ester. "We will be able to do this together two more years."

Ester, too, let the facts be known that his teammates were not feeling good and Jude definitely looked more out of sorts than he normally looked.

"Matt has bronchitis, Mac is just off a cold," said Ester. "We still came out and did our best."

In more ways than one, it was four personal best times in both races.