Lindbergh swimmer takes two state championships, relay ties for first

Lindbergh swimmer Andrew Franco-Munoz this weekend won two individual state championships and helped power a relay to a third state title at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Lindbergh swimmer Andrew Franco-Munoz this weekend won two individual state championships in record time and helped power a relay to a third state title at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

In addition, the Lindbergh Eagles finished third as team in the state meet.

Frnaco-Munoz, who qualified to compete in every individual event at this year’s state championships, a feat known as swimming’s “Iron Man,” finished first in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.

In his 50 free, Franco-Munoz finished in 21.17 seconds. The second-place finishers touched the wall at 21.7 seconds.

In the 100-yard freestyle, Franco-Munoz finished at 46.6 seconds, ahead of the second-place finisher’s time of 47.29.

Both times were meet and school records and the fastest ever by a 2A swimmer, according to coach Roger Miron.

The 200-yard freestyle relay was much closer, however, with Lindbergh and Lake Washington finishing in a tie for first-place at 1:30.80. Both teams are considered state champions. The time is also a school record, breaking one set the week before.

Lindbergh’s relay team consisted of James Buchanan, A.J. Lim, Ben Pogue and Franco-Munoz.

In addition to his relay win, freshman Buchanan also finished second in the 200-yard individual medley and third in the 100 backstroke.

Lim also placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke and 11th in the 100 butterfly.

Diver Derek Anderson also finished in eighth-place for the Eagles.

“This was a very special season,” Miron said in an email. “I would say with winning the Seamount League Championship and the West Central District Championship, plus a third place trophy at State, this is the best team I’ve coached in the 19 years I’ve been coaching Lindbergh.”