Coupeville Sports

Former Coupeville student Ethan Tack will swim in the US Olympic Team Trials. (Photo courtesy Tom Tack)

And then there were two.

Ethan Tack has become the second former Coupeville student in recent times to qualify for the US Olympic Team Trials, following in the footsteps of marathoner Kyle King.

Tack, who swam for the North Whidbey Aquatic Club and attended Coupeville Elementary, eventually transitioned to the East Coast after a family move.

He now lives on Long Island, and is a rising senior at the Naval Academy.

Tack qualified for the Olympic Trials in the 200 individual medley and competes June 17 in Omaha, Nebraska for a spot on the team headed to Tokyo.

The Navy has a program-record 24 swimmers competing in the trials.

During their time on Whidbey, the Tack family were at the forefront of the local swim scene.

“Ethan started his journey to the trials while at Coupeville Elementary and swimming for NWAC while cutting a few of Mrs. Sherman’s classes for practice and meets,” said dad Tom Tack. “I believe he’s the first NWAC alum to ever make the trials, though I’m not positive.”

After moving East, Ethan Tack eventually graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School, where he lettered in swim all four years.

His team won the New York State Public High School Championship in 2016 and 2017, while Tack twice earned All-State honors.

Also a Scholastic All-American, he was the county championship meet MVP in 2018, competing on both the club and school level.

Since arriving at the Naval Academy, where is he pursuing a computer engineering major, Tack has earned First-Team All-Patriot League honors twice.

He will be the second member of his family to graduate from the academy, following in the footsteps of his father.