Local swimmer wins division at age championships

WASILLA — A local swimming standout made waves during the Alaska Age Championships in Juneau last week.

Simmons, one of 18 members of the Wasilla Waves swimming club in the three-day event, finished first in his age group. Simmons led all 14-year-old boys in the championships with 63 total points. Simmons, a Colony High School freshman, won seven different events. Simmons finished first in the 100-yard butterfly, 400 individual medley, 200 individual medley, 200 breaststroke, 500 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 100 butterfly.

Simmons helped the Wasilla Waves finish seventh in the combined team standings with 341 total points.

Katie Laasch-Gray also boasted a first-place finish, winning the swim-off in the girls’ 11-12 50 freestyle.

Julie Simmons was fourth overall in the girls’ 11-year-old class.

The Valley-based Northern Lights Swim Club placed third overall with 735 total points.

Karson Kolberg, Aubrey Cheng, Summer Cheng, Gretchen Snelders, Konnor Kolberg and Caleb Law finished top 3 overall in their respective age classes for the Northern Lights Swim Club.

Aubrey Cheng, Snelders and Law each won three events for NLSC. Cheng finished first in the 50 backstroke, 200 backstroke and 50 freestyle in the girls’ 11-year-old group. Snelders won the 200 backstroke, 50 freestyle and 500 freestyle in the girls’ 12-year-old group. Law placed first in the 200 breaststroke, 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke in the boys’ 13-year-old group.

Karson Kolberg placed first in the 50 and 200 freestyle races in the boys’ 10 and under class. Summer Cheng (girls’ 11) won the 100 breaststroke. Molly McLaughlin (girls’ 11) placed first in the 400 individual medley. Konnor Kolberg (boys’ 12) placed first in the 50 backstroke. Cassie Watson (girls’ 14) finished first in the 100 backstroke.

NLSC also won a pair of relay events. Slender, Aubrey Cheng, Becca De Los Santos and Anna Grace Rogers combined to place first in the girls’ 11-12 400 freestyle relay. Law, Charlie Jim, Ian Sands and Noah Hoefer combined to win the boys’ 13-14 200 relay.