“Distance specialist Ashley Wallace swims to fifth place in 200-yard freestyle.Matt Johnson, staff photoFalcon-Marauder swimmingEdmonds-Woodway 143, S. Whidbey-Mariner 38200 medley relay – 3. Lawer, Mariner, Linclau, Mariner 2:24.95, 5. Mariner, Mariner, Mariner, Wallace 2:37.79; 200 free – 5. Wallace 2:43.95; 50 free- 5. Lauer 27.93; 100 butterfly – 5. Linclau 1:33.35; 500 free- 4. Wallace 7:11.41; 200 free relay – 3. Lawer, Linclau, Wallace, Mariner 2:06.74; 100 breast After three years of sending one or two swimmers to other schools to compete, South Whidbey High School finally has its first girls swim team. Five Falcon swimmers have combined their talents this year with a building girls program at Mariner High School. Third-year swimmer Domi Lawer, along with Falcon rookies Courtney Linclau, Ashley Wallace, Sarah Bartlett, and Stephanie Linden are a big part of the only two-school swim team in the Puget Sound region.Lawer, who swam at Mariner the past two years with South Whidbey graduate Ryanne Gerry, is finally the captain of a team that can call itself a team. After spreading the word that she wanted teammates this season, she got them.They kind of found me, Lawer said Thursday, while taking a break during a swim meet against Edmonds-Woodway.During the regular season, the Falcons are part of a team that officially bills itself as SWHS/MHS on its swim caps. They practice together every day at Mariner High School and travel to all meets as a single team. But starting with the district meet on Nov. 2, the 2A Falcons have to separate themselves from the 3A Marauders and go it alone. That is actually an exciting prospect for the fivesome. Last year, Lawer and Gerry placed 10th as a team at the district meet. This season, with enough swimmers to field two relay teams and to fill 15 spots in individual events, the Falcons have the potential to place even higher.(We’re here) to make an effort and show everyone what we can do, Lawer said. And to to get more swimmers for the team, added junior swimmer Courtney Linclau.That should not be a problem, since swimming is a sport that seems to appeal to novices. Lawer is the most experienced swimmer on the team, having competed since she was a child. The others on the team came out to compete this year even though they had only limited swimming backgrounds. Linclau swam on teams in Snohomish County when she was 9 years old and when she was in seventh grade. Both Wallace and Linden swam with the Oak Harbor swim team last year. Wallace has also worked out with swim instructor Jeff Whitaker at the Island Athletic Club. Bartlett is perhaps the most adventurous of the five, turning out to swim competitively for the first time ever this season.Seven meets into the season, the Falcons and Marauders have yet to win a meet. On Thursday, the combined team fell to a huge and powerful Edmonds-Woodway squad. But, the Falcon swimmers came up with some good individual performances. Lawer made a district-qualifying time in the 50 freestyle, swimming the race in 27.93 seconds, then came back in the second half of the meet to make a personal best time in the 100 breaststroke. Linclau registered personal bests in the 100 butterfly and the 100 breaststroke. Wallace set a personal best in the 500 freestyle.Lawer said continued improvements brighten the team’s post-season picture.I expect we’ll make a pretty big dent at districts, she said.The girls’ coach, Amy Dixon, said she is continually impressed by the five Falcons.With the exception of Ashley’s 200 free, all the girls swam their personal best times today, Dixon said Thursday. We had some tough competition.The swimming Falcons are looking for more swimmers and for divers for the remainder of this season and especially for next season. Those interested in swimming on the team can talk to any one of the the current swimmers, or can get more information at the high school athletic office. “