Knights sweep Region III swimming and diving team titles

The Colony Knights continued their stellar season in the pool, sweeping the team titles during the Region III Championships over the weekend in Homer.

The Colony girls finished with 117 total points in the team standings, and the Knights boys hit 100.5.

The Colony girls won three of the four relay races, posting victories in the 200-yard medley relay, 200 freestyle relay and 400 relay. Hannah Cooper led Colony with a pair of individual wins, placing first in the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Nova Hinze, Kendyl Ligman and Claire Wallstrum also earned gold. Hinze was first in the 200 individual medley, Ligman placed first in the 100 freestyle and Wallstrum won the diving title.

Hinze (100 breaststroke), Jerzey Lane (50 freestyle), Katie Dolick (100 backstroke) and Lyza Krozel (diving) earned runner-up finishes. Dolick (200 IM), Lane (100 butterfly) and Chloe Blackburn (100 breaststroke) placed third; Ligman (200 freestyle), Blackburn (100 butterfly) and Meli Smith (100 freestyle) were fourth; Smith (50 freestyle) was fifth; and Aubrey Bunch (100 butterfly) and Adrianna Roeder (500 freestyle) finished sixth.

The Colony boys scored a pair of relay wins, finishing first in the 200 and 400 freestyle. Beck LaBoucane led the Knights with two individual wins, placing first in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Isaiah Hulien won the 100 butterfly, and Iver Gates placed first in the 50 freestyle. Hulien (200 freestyle), Gates (100 freestyle) and Brody Westrick (diving) finished as a runner-up. Ronald Smith (100 breaststroke) was third; Rhone Leach (100 and 200 freestyle) and Finn Nordstrom (500 freestyle) placed fourth; Nordstrom (200 freestyle), Westrick (50 freestyle) and Holden Carpenter (100 backstroke) were fifth; and Smith (200 IM) placed sixth.

Palmer finished third in the girls team standings with 58 total points. Kylie Benner led the Moose with a pair of individual titles, winning the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke. Mariel Gustafson was third in the 200 freestyle and 50 freestyle. Teagan Havemeister was also third in the 500 freestyle. Kenzie Kosruta (200 IM) and Jade Bamford (100 backstroke) placed fourth; and Havemeister (200 freestyle), Bamford (500 freestyle) and Briston Neuman (diving) were fifth.

Colter Gose led Wasilla with a first-place finish in the boys diving event. Weston Allred was third in the 100 breaststroke and fifth in the 200 IM.

Anya Quass-Lee led the Wasilla girls with a runner-up finish in the 100 freestyle. She was also fourth in the 50 freestyle.

Eli Farabaugh was fourth for the Palmer boys in the 100 butterfly. Blake Althens finished fifth in the 50 freestyle and sixth in the 100 freestyle for the Moose.

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