A good basketball team will normally have a game or two during the season where it doubles an opponent’s score. In baseball it is even more frequent. But in a sport such as swimming it happens maybe once a season.

The Mercer Island High School boys swim team doubled the score of its next closest competitor — Newport — during the district meet Friday and is set to defend its state title Friday and Saturday at the King County Aquatic Center.

The Islanders scored 310 points as a team, leaving the rest of the field scratching their collective heads at Hec Ed Pool. Newport (152.5), O’Dea (133), Seattle Prep (114.5) and Bellevue (107) rounded out the top five.

“For us it was a chance to get some more guys some experience,” said Islander head coach Jeff Lowell. “But (this) Friday is what they are looking forward to.”

The Islanders won the district meet as they have all year, with depth, depth and more depth. But sweeping all the relay events top spots didn’t hurt. Islanders Alexander Hoff, Inar Zhang, Jay Voit and Blake vanHartesvelt set a good tone with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay (1:43.35), the first race of the night. Ian Fisk, Jeff Benca, Kyle Schaeffer and Murray Longbotham took first in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:31.85), while Hoff, Fisk, Tyler Benster and Longbotham finished the night off with a win in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:19.71).

“We have not been talking about trophies and just concetrating on performing the best that they can,” said Lowell.

Fisk was the only individual to take first for the Islanders as he swam the 100-yard freestyle in a time of 48.90. Four Islanders finished second overall in their respective events.

The only thing missing from the Islander’s victorious blowout was Beau Riebe, who sat the diving portion out with mononuecleosis.

“He has probably had mono since the begining of December,” said Lowell.

Riebe techically competed at the meet, taking a disqualification for each dive, inorder to compete at the state meet this weekend. But Micheal Camp continued to surprise the field by placing third overall with a score of 328.

“He has really worked hard to get back to the state meet,” said Lowell. “And he has the drive this season to really compete and make a difference.”