Retiring teacher, coach urges Colony grads to ‘find their 68’
By Jeremiah Bartz Frontiersman.com A football coach using a hockey reference as the centerpiece for his keynote address may
The Colony Knights swimming and diving program enjoyed another big weekend in the pool and crowned another state champion.
Colony sophomore Beck LaBoucane earned gold, winning the boys 100-yard backstroke during the ASAA/First National Bank State Swimming and Diving Championships Saturday at the Bartlett Pool in Anchorage.
LaBoucane also finished second in the 100 freestyle, was part of a pair of third-place relay teams and helped lead the Knights to a runner-up finish in the boys team standings.
Colony finished with 63 points overall, a half-dozen shy of 2025 state champion West Valley. The Knights captured the boys state crown for the first time in school history last year.
LaBoucane earned his state championship in the 100 backstroke with a time of 52.55 seconds. He was also second in the 100 freestyle with a time of 47.10.
LaBoucane combined with Iver Gates, Brody Westrick and Isaiah Hulien to place third in the 200 freestyle relay. LaBoucane, Hulien, Gates and Rhone Leach teamed up to finish third in the 400 freestyle relay.
Gates added a pair of third-place finishes, earning bronze in the 50 and 100 freestyle races. Hulien was fourth in the 200 freestyle and fifth in the 100 butterfly. Westrick placed seventh in the boys diving.
The Colony girls, which placed fourth in the team standings, landed a pair of divers in the top three. Claire Wallstrum was the runner-up in the dive and teammate Lyza Krozel placed third.
Hannah Cooper also had a runner-up finish, earning silver in the 500 freestyle. She added a third-place finish in the 100 backstroke. Jerzey Lane was seventh in the 50 freestyle and eighth in the 100 butterfly.
Colter Gose led Wasilla with a third-place finish in boys diving.
Kylie Benner led Palmer, placing third in the 100 butterfly. She was also sixth in the 100 breaststroke. Briston Neumann placed seventh in girls diving for the Moose.
Contact the Frontiersman at sports@frontiersman.com.

