There’s still a bit of distance between Mercer Island and Bainbridge Island.

The Islanders, the state’s No. 2 team in 3A boys swimming in 2013, overpowered the Spartans, the eighth-place finisher at state, during the rematch between the rivals late last week. Mercer finished in front, 105-78 at the Bainbridge Island Aquatics Center.

Even so, the Spartans made a few waves during the contest.

BHS placed first and second in the 200-yard individual medley event and placed first, second and third in the 100-yard butterfly event.

Mercer, however, dominated the pool in the 200-yard freestyle and the 50-yard freestyle events, as well as the relays.

Spartan Head Coach Kaycee Taylor said that, despite the loss, the team’s best asset is still experience.

“The majority of our team either swims with the Bainbridge Island Swim club year round, or they compete on our water polo team, both of which provide the needed stamina for the level of training we do,” said Taylor.

“We also have good depth of quality swimmers, from our state qualifying swimmers to our newer swimmers, which allows us to be very competitive in dual meets.”

The loss was especially disappointing following the team’s impressive season debut against Central Kitsap High Dec. 5.

The absence of any dedicated divers on the team this year may seem to be a major points deficit, but Taylor says he is not concerned and that the team will easily make up the difference.

“During the regular season this won’t have much of an impact on us,” he said.

“When we get into the post-season, districts and state, it will hurt a bit, but we finished eighth at state last year without a diver,” he noted.

In practice this week, Taylor says he is stressing the mental side of the sport.

“[I’m stressing] getting the swimmers to think about each part of the swim as a discrete component – the start, the break-out after the start, the turns and the finish,” Taylor said.

BHS vs. Mercer Island Results

200-YARD MEDLEY RELAY

First: Mercer Island, 1:44.22 (Teddy Larkin, Noah Deiparine, Duncan Koontz, Karl MacLane)

Second: Bainbridge Spartan Swim and Dive, 1:45.71 (Sam Alpaugh, Keenan Grant, Spencer T. Alpaugh, Marcus Tonsmann)

200-YARD FREESTYLE

First: Andrew Weiss, Mercer Island, 1:53.49

Second: Ian Caldwell, Mercer Island, 1:53.03

Third: Parker Bushey, Bainbridge, 1:55.68

200-YARD INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY

First: Spencer Alpaugh, Bainbridge, 2:04.63

Second: Bill Lee, Bainbridge, 2:07.75

Duncan Koontz, Mercer Island, 2:08.01

50-YARD FREESTYLE

First: Noah Deiparine, Mercer Island, 22.32

Second: Brandt Waesche, Mercer Island, 22.03

Third: Karl MacLane, Mercer Island, 22.12

Fourth: CJ Waite, Bainbridge, 23.83

Fifth: Andrew Callahan, Bainbridge, 24.67

Sixth: Conner Vacca, Bainbridge, 25.09

100-YARD BUTTERFLY

First: Marcus Tonsmann, Bainbridge, 55:54

Second: Adam Comeau, Bainbridge, 59.54

Third: David Jenkins, Bainbridge, 1:01.91

100-YARD FREESTYLE

First: Ian Caldwell, Mercer Island, 50.56

Second: Bill Lee, Bainbridge, 52.34

Third: Parker Bushey, Bainbridge, 52.66

Fourth: Andrew Callahan, Bainbridge, 53.67

500-YARD FREESTYLE

First: Spencer Alpaugh, Bainbridge, 5:03.34

Second: Noah Deiparine, Mercer Island, 5:19.58

Third: Tanner Martinez, Mercer Island, 5:23.22

200-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY

First: Mercer Island, 1:32.84 (Karl MacLane, Andrew Weiss, Ian Caldwell, Brandt Waesche)

Second: Bainbridge, 1:36.66 (Adam Comeau, Parke Bushey, Bill Lee, Marcus Tonsmann)

Third: Mercer Island, 1:36.89 (Andrew Fukuda, Austin Ralph, Duncan Koontz, Matthew Hanson)

100-YARD BACKSTROKE

First: Sam Alpaugh, Bainbridge, 57.31

Second: Andrew Weiss, Mercer Island, 59.79

Third: James Bullock, Bainbridge, 1:01.17

100-YARD BREASTSTROKE

First: David Conger, Mercer Island, 1:05.65

Second: CJ Waite, Bainbridge, 1:05.79

Third: Andrew Fukuda, Mercer Island, 1:05.94

400-YARD FREESTYLE RELAY

First: Mercer Island, 3:28.65 (Brandt Waesche, Ian Caldwell, Andrew Weiss, Noah Deiparine)

Second: Bainbridge, 3:30.39 (Bill Lee, Marcus Tonsmann, Parker Bushey, CJ Waite)

Third: Bainbridge, 3:39.18 (Adam Comeau, James Bullock, Sam Alpaugh, Keenan Grant)