Skyline Spartans junior-to-be Sarah DiMeco has been immersed in the world of competitive swimming since she was 9 years old.

DiMeco, who joined the Issaquah Sockeyes Swim Team (club team) in 2009 on a year-around basis, said IST has played a pivotal role in her development into the top flight swimmer she is today.

“When I came to IST (2009) I obviously knew the basics of swimming, but I had never really been coached. I have learned everything I know from IST,” DiMeco said.

During the 2016 high school season as a sophomore, DiMeco captured first place in 400 relay, 200 free and 500 free at the Class 4A state championships in November 2016. Skyline won its second consecutive state title, compiling 243 total team points. Wenatchee finished in second place with 232 points. Winning back-to-back state titles during her freshman and sophomore years is something DiMeco will never forget.

“I think being a freshman (2015) and winning state was cool because we were kind of the underdogs and weren’t necessarily expected to win. Coming into sophomore year, we weren’t pressured but there was a lot of stress on winning it [the state title] again,” DiMeco explained. “It was cool to follow through with what everyone was expecting us to do.”

DiMeco, who is training over the summer with IST, competed in the 2017 Phillips 66 Nationals/World Championships trials from June 27 through July 1 in Indianapolis. DiMeco competed in the 800 free (9:01.63) and 200 fly (2:16.71). DiMeco said she had never been to a meet with that many talented swimmers. There was a sizable contingent of Division-1 collegiate swimmers at the meet.

“It was really cool. For me it was about my [races], but it also about seeing a lot of swimmers I have watched before. It was really inspiring to watch the finals and just see a lot of fast swimming,” she said.

IST head coach Ryan Pachciarz, who has coached DiMeco for the past four years, is impressed with the dedication DiMeco brings to the pool on a daily basis.

“Sarah’s personality is one that holds a lot of passion for the sport. She is a fun person to be around, she motivates others and she motivates me,” Pachciarz said. “Seeing her and her teammates and what they do every day and how they support each other is something that is really fulfilling.”

Pachciarz was thrilled to see DiMeco compete at the world championships in Indianapolis.

“I was extremely proud. It was a really a joy to watch her swim because she just loves it so much. Every race she goes into, she goes into it with all of her heart,” he said.

DiMeco is looking forward to competing in the Summer Speedo Junior Nationals meet this August in New York.

“It will be really fun. The meet that is coming up will be cool because I will be competing against some really fast swimmers, but also kids that are my age or are younger than me. In the Phillips 66 (Nationals/World Championships trials), it was mostly older athletes than me that were really fast,” she said.

Pachciarz believes the sky is the limit for DiMeco’s swimming career.

“I really honestly think the potential for her to continue to be a high-level swimmer is going to last at least for six more years. In the immediate future, I just want to prepare for what is ahead because I know that I’m not going to be her coach forever,” Pachiarz said with a smile. “I want to give her as many tools as possible to help her navigate her career.”