Submitted by: Bellingham Bay Swim Team
In one week, two Bellingham Bay Swim Team seniors committed to swim D1 in 2017. The night after Sydney Wong signed her National Letter of Intent to swim for the University of San Diego, teammate Rowan King signed his letter to swim for University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. The Squalicum High School senior said he chose Pacific because of a, “fantastic team atmosphere, great coaching staff, competitive environment and academic opportunities.” He looks forward to swimming Division 1 with high level athletes to help push him to the next level.
King’s best events are the 100 breast stroke (56.87), the 200 breaststroke (2:08.40), and the 50 freestyle (21.86). His most memorable race was getting his first Junior National cut in the 100 breaststroke at Pacific Northwest Washington State Senior Short Course Championships. “I have never been so excited and proud after a race than when I finally obtained that milestone,” King said. King will also be competing in his best events at USA Swimming Winter Junior National Championships when he travels with Bellingham Bay Swim Team to Texas A&M in College Station this December.
He reminds younger swimmers that, “Swimming may not be fun in the way that traditional sports are but when your hard work and dedication pays off it makes swimming competitively worth the effort.” King thanks his parents for being a driving force behind his dedication to the sport. “I could never have made it to this point without their sacrifices and support,” he said.
