FEDERAL WAY — A state team trophy was about the only thing lacking from an exceptionally successful Aberdeen girls swimming season.

The Bobcats wound up seventh in a fiercely competive field at the state 2A Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday at the King County Aquatics Center.

It was one of Aberdeen’s best state showings since its 2007 championship and capped a campaign in which the Bobcats went unbeaten in dual competition, dominated the all-classification Southwest Washington Championships and captured the district title.

They were never in the hunt for the state team title, which evolved into a two-team battle between Liberty of Renton and Port Angeles. Liberty prevailed with 322 points, 62 more than the Roughriders.

Aberdeen was fifth entering the concluding 400-yard freestyle relay, but was overtaken by North Kitsap and district rival Columbia River. With 137 points, the Bobcats trailed North Kitsap by 21 points in the race for the fourth and final state trophy slot.

Prior to the meet, Aberdeen coach Jan Simons had expressed hope for a top-three state finish. But, given the level of competition, she was happy with a state showing that included four school records and personal bests from virtually every participant.

“We wanted to compete and we wanted to improve our performance,” Simons said. “We did that yesterday in a big way and we did that again today. They put out 110 percent all the way and I’m really proud of them. We’re a rising tide here.”

One indication of the level of the competition was that the Bobcats bettered all four of the school-record times they established in Friday’s prelimaries, but failed to finish higher than fourth in any of those events.

Even more strikingly, the AHS foursome of Kayleia Sias, Mari Rabung, Annika Eisele and Karli Heikkila established the seventh-fastest 200 medley relay time in meet history (a school record 1:53.16) — and still wound up placing fourth behind Port Angeles, Liberty and Pullman.

Aberdeen’s 200 freestyle relay quartet of Eisele, Katie Lewis, Heikkila and Emily May also broke its one-day old school record with a time of 1:43.86, the 10th fastest in meet history. The Cats settled for fifth in that event.

Eisele lowered her own school-record clockings in both her individual events.

The AHS freshman led after the opening butterfly leg of the 200 individual medley before taking fourth at 2:12.46. She was also fourth in the 100 butterfly in 58.88.

Sias, another Bobcat freshman, placed sixth in the 100 backstroke in 1:01.88. Heikkila was eighth in the 100 freestyle in 56.61.

Heikkila, Sias, Rabung and Aberdeen’s 400 free relay team also competed in consolation finals (which included competitors with the ninth-through-16th best times from Friday’s prelims).

While the Bobcats return the bulk of this year’s state team, many of their chief rivals are also composed primarily of underclassmen.

North Kitsap freshman Eleanor Beers, who won the 50 and 100 freestyles and anchored her school’s victorious 400 free relay team, was named the meet’s outstanding swimmer.

Nevertheless, Simons is confident her team will remain state challengers in the near future.

“I think the experience for these kids this year will make a difference next year,” the Aberdeen coach summarized.

200 medley relay — 1:50.76 — 1. Port Angeles. 4. Aberdeen. 200 free — 1:54.06 — 1. Krista Wilson (Ellensburg). 200 IM — 2:05.9 — 1. Abby Russell (Liberty). 4. Annika Eisele (A). 50 free — 23.36 — 1. Eleanor Beers (NK). 11. Karli Heikkila (A). Diving — 330.8 — 1. Belle Wong (Liberty). 100 fly — 58.21 — 1. Alexis Schmidt (Cheney). 4. Annika Eisele (A). 13. Kayleia Sias (A). 100 free — 50.98 — 1. Eleanor Beers (NK). 8. Karli Heikkila (A). 500 free — 5:06.40 — 1. Krista Wilson (Ellensburg). 200 free relay — 1:39.45 — 1. Liberty. 5. Aberdeen. 100 back — 56.40 — 1. Taylor McCoy (Pullman). 6. Kayleia Sias (A). 100 breast — 1:05.13 — 1. Jaine Macias (Port Angeles). 10. Mari Rabung (A). 400 free relay — 3:41.54 — 1. North Kitsap. 13. Aberdeen.