Colony girls win Region III team title; 6 Valley athletes earn individual championships

The Colony Knights earned the girls team title during the Region III swimming and diving championships Saturday at the Palmer Pool.

Lori Houghton led the Knights with an individual title, finishing first in the 500-yard freestyle. The Knights also won both the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. The Knights notched 14 top-3 finishes and collected 99 total points in the team standings.

Houghton was one of six Valley athletes to earn an individual region title. Palmer’s Ally Ferguson was first in the girls 200 freestyle. Palmer’s Stewart Sawyer placed first in the boys 100 butterfly. Colony’s Kristofer VanGorder finished first in the 50 freestyle.

The Valley also swept the diving events. Ally Hrncir was first for the Palmer girls and Kade Reynolds was first for the Wasilla boys.

Jasmine Anderson also helped Colony win the girls team titles with runner-up finishes in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Joscelyn Barrette was second in the 50 freestyle and third in the 100 freestyle. Josephine Rogness finished second in the 100 backstroke and third in the 50 freestyle. Avery Palenske (100 butterfly), Asha Gerteisen (diving) and Merica Miller (200 freestyle) finished third for the Colony girls.

Colony and Palmer finished tied for second in the boys standings with 54 total points.

VanGorder added a second-place finish in the 200 freestyle to his win in the 50 freestyle for Colony.. Derick Wengler was second in the 50 freestyle, and Tyler Belliston (200 individual medley) and Xander Backus (diving) placed third for the Colony boys.

In addition to his win in the 100 butterfly, Sawyer was also second in the 100 breaststroke for the Palmer boys. Palmer’s Lucas Ruda (100 freestyle) and Connor Lee (50 freestyle) were third. The Moose also won the boys 200 freestyle medley and were second in the 400 freestyle relay.

Led by Ferguson and Hrncir, Palmer placed fourth in the girls team standings.

Wasilla’s Deshawn Campbell and Audrey Dietz placed second in the boys and girls diving events.

Each individual region champion earns an automatic bid to the state meet, and the next top seven finishers will be considered for qualification. Each region champion relay term also earns an automatic bid to state, and the next top four are considered for qualification.

The ASAA/First National Bank State Swimming and Diving Championships are Nov. 5-6 at Bartlett High School.

Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.