Prep swimming: Wasilla makes splash with sixth-place finish

ANCHORAGE — With team members sporting dyed-red hairdos, the Wasilla Warriors were hard to miss Saturday afternoon at the ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Swimming and Diving Championships at Bartlett High School.

Even tougher to miss were the Warriors’ blistering times.

The Wasilla boys’ 200-yard medley team opened up the day by breaking its own school record Saturday as it swam its way onto the podium with a fourth-place finish in the event with a time of 1 minute, 42.83 seconds.

“We did great,” said Wasilla’s Tommy Hightower, who swam the butterfly leg of the race.

Sophomore Christian Long also broke a school record in the boys’ 500-yard freestyle and junior Charles Frey earned a Valley-best third place finish in the 100-yard backstroke as the Warriors raced to a sixth-place finish overall.

Wasilla coach Caryn Reid said the team’s main goal entering the state meet was to beat individual best times, which is what the Warriors did in virtually every event.

“Everyone swam their best,” Reid said.

Hightower said the team — which also included Christian Long, Charles Frey and Max Merriam — has consistently lowered its time in the medley relay throughout the year, and setting another record in the finals was a big goal.

“We’ve been pounding it down all season,” Hightower said.

The top four finishers in each event receive medals, which Reid said was another team goal for the four in the medley relay.

“They’re very happy they medaled,” Reid said.

The Wasilla swimmers stuck out at state over the weekend, sporting shocks of hair that team member Christian Long said was a way to emphasize the close bond the swimmers share.

“We’ve all been swimming together since we were 9 or 10,” Long said.

Long, a sophomore, may have suffered a bit for his efforts in the medley relay. Swimming just 10 minutes later in the boys’ 200-yard freestyle final, Long just missed a second podium finish, placing fifth. He also placed fifth in the 500-yard freestyle later in the meet.

Long, who qualified fifth in the 200 free, said that after setting a personal best during prelims Friday he had hoped to move up a spot Saturday, but swimming a relay so close to his individual event was a tough task.

“It’s really hard,” he said. “I didn’t go as fast as I did yesterday.

Reid said Long was in a ugh position with the two events so close together in the line-up.

“He’s at a disadvantage because he swims the medley,” Reid said. “But he still did really well.”

One Wasilla athlete had an advantage and disadvantage in her event.

Sophomore diver Rachel Kennedy started in the sport just eight weeks ago, but as a high-level gymnast, Kennedy’s natural ability helped overcome her inexperience as she grabbed a podium spot with a fourth place finish off the 1-meter high board.“My gymnastics background definitely came into it,” Kennedy said.

In particular, Kennedy said her ability to master the twists and flips needed in competitive diving has helped in her new sport. She showed her skills off during her final dive of the afternoon, pulling off a back somersault with two and a half twists — the most-difficult dive attempted at the girls’ final.

“I was really pleased with how I did today,” she said.

After seeing immediate success in the sport, Kennedy said she’s still unsure how serious to take diving. Unlike gymnastics, where she can spend as much as four to five hours a day practicing, Kennedy said diving is more of a laid-back sport that she’s into now mainly for fun.

“I like it,” she said. “It’s definitely something I can have fun with.”

Kennedy’s finish pushed the Wasilla girls to 15th overall, one spot ahead of Colony in 16th. The Knights were led by sophomore Katelyn Payne, who finished off an injury-plagued season by earning fifth place in the girls’ 500-yard freestyle. Payne, a talented athlete who also stars for the Colony soccer team, struggled with a shoulder injury and bouts of asthma this season, but nearly set a career best in her final race of the year.

“That’s nothing to be ashamed of, top-five in state,” Colony coach Dawn Brettrager said afterward.

Brettrager said Payne’s gutsy performance demonstrated Payne’s talent and promised big things in the future from her talented underclassman.

“She’ll be back strong next year,” she said.

Kennedy’s coach, Larry Smith, said that while gymnastics and diving have many similarities, Kennedy still had to learn a few basics during the year.

“You have to learn how to get off the board, because you’re going up instead of out,” Smith said.

Kennedy wasn’t the only Mat-Su diver to make the finals. Her brother, David, as well as Colony diver Tim Schachle, also made the top-eight in state — another remarkable accomplishment for Valley divers, which sent 11 athletes — eight from Colony/Wasilla and three from Palmer — to the state meet out of 40 total statewide.

Smith, who coaches both the Wasilla and Colony divers, said the results prove the Valley is a diving hot spot.

“The Valley’s got some good diving,” said Smith, who was named diving Coach of the Year for his efforts with the two squads.

Perhaps the most impressive thing about the Mat-Su divers’ performance is that only one, Colony’s Tim Schachle, had ever advanced to the state finals.

Divers are a bit unique because they typically practice separate from their respective teams. Smith said that difference makes for a very close-knit group of athletes within the sport. Instead of rooting against one another, he said, divers are more apt to cheer on their opponents rather than hope for a belly flop.

“They really dive as a team,” he said. “They want everybody to do their best they can, and the best person should be the one who wins,” he said.

In that spirit of camaraderie, Smith — who said he’s been coaching Valley divers for “nine or 10 years” — also was quick to praise the efforts of first-year Palmer coach Kerri Powell.

“She’s done a terrific job with the Palmer divers,” he said.

While Wasilla had the best overall meet among Valley teams, it could be argued they weren’t the most flamboyant squad strutting their stuff at Bartlett. That honor may have to go to the Colony Knights’ 200-meter freestyle relay team.

Known as the “Screamin’ Creamsicles,” the Colony team of Rhowe Stefanski, Corbyn Jahn, Evans Willard and Jeff Frey also set a school record for the Knights. Moments after the team’s seventh-place finish, Evans broke out a small cooler filled with the icy treats.

“I guess I’m the fearless leader,” Evans, a senior, said of the after-race treat.

Whatever works, Colony coach Dawn Brettrager said. “Sometimes that’s the difference when you get that little bit of camaraderie between a relay team.”

As a team, the Colony boys finished ninth overall, while Palmer was 19th. Sophomre Jeff Frey was the top Colony individual swimmer, picking up an eighth-place finish in the 200 freestyle and fifth in the 500 freestyle. Unfortunately for the Knights, Frey hinted he may switch allegiances next season and join his brother Charles to form what could be an even more dangerous Wasilla relay team.

“We could really be a dominant force next year,” Jeff Frey said.

Wasilla’s Christian Long said he’d be more than happy to welcome the younger Frey into the fold.

“I think we’ll be even faster next year,” Long said. The Palmer Moose were led by senior Kyle Johnson, who led the boys’ 100 breaststroke before fading to seventh.

Rachel Kennedy’s fourth-place finish in diving pushed the Wasilla girls to 15th overall, one spot ahead of Colony in 16th. The Knights were led by sophomore Katelyn Payne, who finished off an injury-plagued season by grabbing fifth place in the girls’ 500 yard freestyle. Payne, a talented athlete who also stars for the Colony soccer team, struggled with a shoulder injury and bouts of asthma this season, but nearly set a career best in her final race of the year.

“That’s nothing to be ashamed of, top-five in state,” Colony coach Dawn Brettrager said afterward.

Brettrager said Payne’s gutsy performance demonstrated Payne’s talent, and promised big things in the future from her talented underclassman.

She’ll be back strong next year,” she said.

Contact Matt Tunseth at 352-2265 or matt.tunseth@

frontiersman.com.

State Swimming Meet

Finals

At Bartlett High School

Saturday

GIRLS

Team scores — 1) Juneau-Douglas 131; 2) Service 69; 3) Dimond 64; 4) East 57; 5) Kodiak 49; 6) Chugiak 43; 7) South 41; 8) Soldotna 23; 9) Lathrop 16; 10) West Valley 15; 11) Petersburg 14; 12) Sitka 9; 13) North Pole 8; 14 tie, Wasilla and Ketchikan 5; 16) Colony 4; 17)

West 2.

Individaul results

200-yard IM Relay - 1. Juneau-Douglas, 1:47.86 (STATE RECORD); 2. Kodiak, 1:52.19; 3. Dimond, 1:52.39; 4. East, 1:52.84; 5. South, 1:53.71; 6. Petersburg, 1:54.40.

200-yard Freestyle - 1. Meghan Cavanaugh, East, 1:50.02 (STATE RECORD); 2. Melissa Bogert, Jun, 1:54.21; 3. Hannah Iverson, Ser, 1:57.94; 4. Amber Kelly, Jun, 1:59.30; 5. Anne Goering, W. Valley, 2:01; 6. Brogan Beyette, 2:01.25.

200-Yard IM - 1. Kristin Jones, Jun, 2:11.78; 2. Jordyn Caldwell, Chu, 2:13.44; 3. Nikki Wray, Dim, 2:13.78; 4. Naomi Franquelin, Kod, 2:13.89; 5. Alyssa Keill, Lat, 2:16.06; 6. Chloe Miller, Ser, 2:16.86.

50-yard Freestyle - 1. Sara Bogert, Jun, 24.08; 2. Erin McDuffie, Ser, 24.54; 3. Lyla Marey, Sol, 24.78; 4. Ava Williams, Chu, 25.24; 5. Haley Bissell, Dim, 25.26; 6. Jenna Rutecki, Jun, 25.28.

1-meter Diving - 1. Christina Kirkwood, South, 438.85; 2. Renee Jordan, East, 397.20; 3. Lindsey Veit, South, 342.25; 4. Rachel Kennedy, Was, 334.20; 5. Allison Sharp, Jun, 331.95; 6. Alyssa Miller, W. Valley, 296.40.

100-yard Butterfly - 1. Meghan Cavanaugh, East, 55.59 (STATE RECORD); 2. Melissa Bogert, Jun, 56.15; 3. Amber Kelly, Jun, 1:00.01; 4. Margo Adams, Ser, 1:00.24; 5. Kirsta Bezenek, Ket, 1:00.77; 6. Erin Streuli, Pet, 1:01.93.

100-yard Freestyle - 1. Sara Bogert, Jun, 52.85; 2. Yana Garvey, Dim, 53.25; 3. Erin McDuffie, Ser, 53.40; 4. Lyla Marey, Sol, 54.39; 5. Anne Goering, W. Valley, 54.69; 6. Ava Williams, Chu, 55.07.

500-yard Freestyle - 1. Kristin Jones, Jun, 5:09.93; 2. Hannah Iverson, Ser, 5:14.83; 3. Alyssa Keill, Lat, 5:19.83; 4. Jordyn Caldwell, Chu, 5:20.28; 5. Katelyn Payne, Col, 5:20.65; 6. Tessa Hasbrouck, Pet, 5:21.40.

200-yard Freestyle Relay - 1. Service, 1:40.49; 2. Juneau, 1:41.85; 3. East, 1:42.62; 4. Chugiak, 1:43.02; 5. Soldotna, 1:43.83; 6. South, 1:43.87.

100-yard Backstroke - 1. Yana Garvey, Dim, 56.73 (STATE RECORD); 2. Kelly Brakora, East, 1:00.77; 3. Haley Bissell, Dim, 1:00.94; 4. Jenna Rutecki, Jun, 1:01.47; 5. Karen Philpot, Kod, 1:01.50; 6. Paulina Yoo, South, 1:01.58.

100-yard Breaststroke - 1. Laura Griffing, Kod, 1:07.32; 2. Lia Heifetz, Jun, 1:07.74; 3. Nikki Wray, Dim, 1:09.72; 4. Myra Scholze, Kod, 1:10.69; 5. Allison Burnham, South, 1:11.04; 6. Christine Kirk, Ser, 1:11.38.

400-yard Freestyle Relay - 1. Juneau, 3:35.62; 2. Dimond, 3:39.31; 3. Service, 3:40.50; 4. Kodiak, 3:46.46; 5. Chugiak, 3:48.24; 6. North Pole, 3:51.51.

BOYS

Team scores — 1) East 103; 2) Dimond 70; 3) tie, Kodiak and Juneau-Douglas 52; 5) Sitka 45; 6) Service 40; 7) Wasilla 38; 8) South 31; 9) West Valley 27; 10) North Pole 18; 11) Colony 17; 12) tie, Soldotna and Lathrop 11; 14) Ketchikan 10; 15) tie, Bartlett and Homer 6; 17) tie, Eagle River and Seward 5; 19) tie, Petersburg and Palmer 3; 21) Kenai 2.

Individual results

200-yard IM Relay - 1. East, 1:40.27; 2. Dimond, 1:41.87; 3. Juneau, 1:42.66; 4. Wasilla, 1:42.83; 5. South, 1:44.51; 6. Soldotna, 1:44.65.

200-yard Freestyle - 1. Austin Hussong, Dim, 1:46.63; 2. Bryce Peck, NP, 1:47.63; 3. Charlie Wholecheese, East, 1:48.11; 4. Austin Reed, Kod, 1:48.61; 5. Christian Long, Was, 1:49.71; 6. Korey Kinney, Dim, 1:49.92.

200-Yard IM - 1. Josh Yoo, South, 1:59.82; 2. Matthew Summers, Dim, 2:00.38; 3. Lars Matkin, East, 2:01.04; 4. Keegan Severns, Lat, 2:02.86; 5. Tanner Armstrong, Bart, 2:05.63; 6. Seth Cayce, Jun, 2:05.65.

50-yard Freestyle - 1. Ben Adams, Sitka, 21.57 (STATE RECORD); 2. Aaron Heaslet, East, 22.20; 3. Slater Ferguson, Sitka, 22.40; 4. Andrew Wilson, East, 22.45; 5. Eric Ferree, W. Valley, 22.70; 6. Eric Friccero, Kod, 22.75.

1-meter Diving - 1. Ryan Borup, Ket, 485.45; 2. Brandon Baker, East, 428.85; 3. Scott Wandersee, Kod, 421.85; 4. Robert Dieffenderfer, ER, 414.25; 5. Dalton Haas, Ser, 404.45; 6. Tim Schachle, Col, 360.95.

100-yard Butterfly - 1. Wyatt Adams, Ser, 51.58; 2. Cody Brunette, Jun, 51.70; 3. Brian Ritchie, Hom, 53.11; 4. Winter Heaven, Sol, 54.44; 5. Clayton Schauff, Kod, 55.37; 6. Dan Wilson, East, 56.04.

100-yard Freestyle - 1. Wyatt Adams, Ser, 47.00 (STATE RECORD); 2. Ben Adams, Sitka, 47.51; 3. Aaron Heaslet, East, 48.50; 4. Nick Rutecki, Jun, 49.29; 5. Jeffrey Frey, Col, 50.10; 6. Rhowe Stefanski, Col, 50.30.

500-yard Freestyle - 1. Matthew Summers, Dim, 4:46.16; 2. Austin Reed, Kod, 4:51.79; 3. Bryce Peck, NP, 4:51.84; 4. Korey Kinney, Dim, 4:52.62; 5. Christian Long, Was, 4:56.93; 6. Thor Stenfjord, Pet, 4:58.49.

200-yard Freestyle Relay - 1. East, 1:30.62; 2. Sitka, 1:31.83; 3. Kodiak, 1:32.18; 4. West Valley, 1:32.19; 5. Service, 1:33.30; 6. Wasilla, 1:33.74.

100-yard Backstroke - 1. Cody Brunette, Jun, 54.22; 2. Austin Hussong, Dim, 55.34; 3. Charles Frey, Was, 55.98; 4. Drew Vandermeer, W. Valley, 56.01; 5. Adam Miller, Ser, 56.87; 6. Eric Friccero, Kod, 57.20.

100-yard Breaststroke - 1. Lars Matkin, East, 1:00.69; 2. Josh Yoo, South, 1:01.45; 3. Keegan Severns, Lat, 1:01.63; 4. Jay Schulte, South, 1:03.31; 5. Kenny Audette, Sew, 1:03.46; 6. Kyle Johnson, Pal, 1:03.57.

400-yard Freestyle Relay - 1. East, 3:16.30; 2. Dimond, 3:17.49; 3. Juneau, 3:17.54; 4. Kodiak, 3:19.56; 5. Sitka, 3:23.46; 6. Wasilla, 3:23.61.