MIHS boys swimmers and divers splash into their season

Published 8:30 am Friday, December 12, 2025

Ryan Iwasaki feels that if he and his teammates on the Mercer Island High School (MIHS) swim and dive squad show up and put in the effort, they can make a change.

It takes heaps of commitment and work to succeed in the pool realm and that can also be applied to the classroom and in life, said the senior captain whose top events are the 50- and 100-yard freestyles.

Last year, the Islanders finished fifth at the 3A state meet at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way and they’re possessing tons of energy this time out that has Iwasaki excited about this season.

In his leadership role as a captain, Iwasaki wants everyone to feel like they’re part of the team, which features a host of veterans and newcomers.

Rhodes Butler, another senior captain who thrives in the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle, said the Islanders boast a couple of swimmers who could place in the top three at state and they’re close to putting together a fast relay squad that could make an impact this season.

“If we can get a lot of people in the top 15, top 20, those all score points as well, and I think that’s our path to winning,” said Butler, who echoed Iwasaki’s sentiment about having an all-inclusive squad.

When athletes join the Islander swim and dive program, they become part of a family. Butler feels that when the Islanders splash through double practices on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays — including an early-bird 5:30 a.m. start on two of those days — unique bonds are created.

Junior Aston Lee then joins the conversation and says the swim and dive scene brings about a sense of community and family.

“Here in Swive, especially during the meets, you just have everybody on the pool deck cheering as loud as you can for you. You have captains bringing everybody together and making everybody feel like they belong,” said Lee, who favors the 200- and 500-yard freestyles.

Lee added that improving each day and having a good time is what the Islander program is all about.

When head coach Tim Chung’s name enters the conversation, Lee said the MIHS alumnus and swim star is supportive and makes everybody feel like they’re in a good place through their involvement in the program.

When it’s time to hit the pool deck for competitions, the captains and Chung get everyone fired up with inspirational speeches that leads into chanting and yelling to set the stage for the meet.

MIHS next travels to Issaquah for a meet at 4 p.m. on Dec. 18 at Julius Boehm Pool.