The Mercer Island boys swim team took two big steps forward during the past 12 days. The Islanders’ trip to Minnesota for the Minneapolis Invite resulted in a big win, moving them closer to the goal of a national title. The team returned home Thursday and destroyed Woodinville 123-53. On Saturday it won the Kentridge Invitational (919.5) by 437.5 points to re-emphasize its power in Washington state.

“It could prove to be a big help,” said Mercer Island coach Jeff Lowell about the effect of winning the invitational. “It proves that we are competitive on a national stage.”

Competitive is an understatement. The Islanders competed in two sessions of the meet, winning both. The most impressive was the team’s win in the Gold division where they took first by 46, scoring 684 points overall. Ten teams competed in the session.

Mercer Island’s best swim of the meet came during the first race of the Gold session. Alex Hoff, Murray Longbotham, Andy Wingerson and Ian Fisk set a meet record in the 200-yard medley relay, completing the race in a time of 1:35.83. But more importantly, the time beats the Washington state record for the event.

The Islanders took first in 10 of the 24 events they swam. The team of Hoff, Longbotham, Kyle Schaeffer and Tyler Benster took first in the 400-yard freestyle relay, which also set a meet record with a time of 3:09.96.

“Hoff and Schaeffer had a really good meet,” said Lowell.

The 200-yard freestyle relay also went to Hoff, Fisk, Schaeffer and Longbotham (1:27.16), two tenths of a second from the meet record.

Longbotham won the 100-yard butterfly (51.16), while Fisk won the 50-yard freestyle (21.86).

During the Tiger session, the Islanders also dominated in individual races as they scored 626 points to take first place by 45 points. Mercer Island’s Matt Wiens took first twice, first in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:53.80 and then crushed the competition in the 500-yard freestyle by 20 seconds (5:06.60).

Islander Robbie Homchick won the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.30 seconds,

In relay action, Islanders Eric Stadius, Connor Paulich, Dan Simons and Homchick teamed up to win the 200-yard medley relay (1:46.53), while Simons, Brian Williamson, Homchick and Bret Mills took first in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:34.37).

Mercer Island’s victorious homecoming against Woodinville was marked by a new six-dive school record by Islander Beau Riebe. The senior did not compete in Minnesota but made up for it by scoring 285.75 points.

“Sometimes he just needs a break and comes back even better,” said Lowell.

The Islanders took first in all but one race during the meet.

Mercer Island will host Bellevue tomorrow at Mary Wayte Pool with a start time of 3:30 p.m.