Valley swimmers compete in meets

Palmer, Colony, and Wasilla headed south last weekend to compete in two events held on Friday and Saturday.

Friday, the three schools competed along with six other schools in the SOHI Pentathlon at Soldotna High School.

Soldotna won the Pentathlon girls' team event, with Palmer finishing third, Colony fourth, and Wasilla sixth.

The Pentathlon consists of five events: the 100-meter intermediate, the 50-meter fly, the 50-meter backstroke, the 50-meter breaststroke, and the 50-meter freestyle.

Results are determined from the combined time of all events.

Palmer's best individual time went to Kelly Cross, who placed eighth in the event.

Elise Long finished with Colony's best time, placing ninth. Erica Johnson finished 16th posting Wasilla's best time.

Colony's Sarah Brettrager set a new meet record in the 50-meter freestyle event with a time of 24.80 seconds.

None of the Valley schools placed in the boys' overall team Pentathlon.

A school must have a swimmer finish in the top 16 places to earn points.

Wasilla's Forrest Miles finished 28th, Colony's Wade Turner finished 29th, and Palmer's Joe Williams finished 35th for top finishers in each school.

On Saturday, Colony and Wasilla stayed to compete with Soldotna in a swim and dive tri-meet.

Colony's 200-meter freestyle relay team of Bettranger, Anna Fernandez, Long, and Jorin Klawitter took first with a time of 1:47.52.

Brettrager also won the 100-meter freestyle event. Colony's Eric Bleicher took the boys' diving competition.

Palmer went to Skyview Saturday for a tri-meet with Skyview and Kodiak. Logan Bean and Tim Putney of Palmer placed first and second in the boys' 200-meter freestyle event. Eric Hansen won the boys' diving competition, with Hal Willardson finishing fourth.

Bristol Whitmore, Katlyn Griese, Kelly Cross, and Zara Sykes combined to win the girls' 200-meter medley relay.

Cross won the girls' 200-meter freestyle event by almost four and one half seconds, with Griese finishing fourth.

Cross went on to win 500-meter freestyle event. Griese came away with a convincing win in the 100-meter breaststroke.

"We have a bunch of new kids this year," said Palmer coach Tim Lundt. "They are working hard to improve and get faster."

Individual Valley results from SOHI Pentathlon

Girls -- 8. Kelly Cross, Palmer; 9. Elise Long, Colony; 16. Erica Johnson, Wasilla; 17. Jorin Klawitter, Colony; 20. Liz Pereak-Dennett, Colony. 21. Ali Willis, Wasilla; 22. Anna Fernandez, Colony; 24. Atali Smith, Wasilla; 29. Katye Long, Colony; 31. Macky Cassidy, Wasilla; 34. Zara Sykes, Palmer; 36. Katlyn Griese, Palmer; 42. Bristol Whitmore, Palmer; 43. Rebecca Wachter, Wasilla; 50. Bridget Heimerl, Colony; 53. Whitney-Marie Bostick, Palmer; 58. Aurora Johnson, Palmer; 59. Malaika Bowles, Wasilla; 61. Kristin Gearry, Colony; 64. Kirsten Lein, Wasilla; 67. Jessica Mann, Palmer; 68. Krista Cameron, Palmer; 69. Kara VanDongen, Colony; 71. Sarah Meneghin, Colony; 73. Sarah Brettrager, Colony; 77. Amanda McCord, Palmer; 82. Emery Tyler, Colony; 84. Pam Birdsall, Colony; 86. Julie Lesko, Colony; 87. Charlotte Von Stieglitz, Wasilla; 88. Maile Caywood, Wasilla; 89. Tiffany Reid, Colony; 91. Jaime Moehring, Wasilla; 92. Cheyenne Gilman, Wasilla; 92. Lacey Jensen, Wasilla; 92. Christy Peterson, Palmer; 92. Shelby Hill, Palmer.

Boys -- 28. Forrest Miles, Wasilla; 29. Wade Turner, Colony; 33. Brendon Bruns, Colony; 35. Joe Williams, Palmer; 38. Tyler Suedin, Palmer; 41. Sam Zimmer, Palmer; 43. Tony Keller, Colony; 43. Eric Bletcher, Colony.

Individual Palmer results from Skyview meet

Boys -- 200-meter freestyle - 1. Logan Bean; 2. Tim Putney. 50-meter freestyle - 3. Joe Williams; 4. Sam Zimmer. 100-meter freestyle - 3. Sam Zimmer; 4. Tyler Suedin. 500-meter freestyle - 2. Logan Bean. 100-meter breaststroke - 2. Joe Williams. 1-meter diving - 1. Eric Hansen; 4. Hal Willardson.

Girls -- 200-meter relay - 1. Palmer. 6. Palmer. 200-meter freestyle - 1. Kelly Cross; 4. Katlyn Griese. 200-meter individual medley - 3. Bristol Whitmore; 4. Zara Sykes. 50-meter freestyle - 5. Whitney Bostick; 6. Aurora Johnson. 100-meter butterfly - 2. Zara Sykes. 100-meter freestyle - 4. Bristol Whitmore; 6. Jessica Mann. 500-meter freestyle - 1. Kelly Cross. 200-meter freestyle relay - 3. Palmer; 5. Palmer. 100-meter backstroke - 3. Whitney Bostick; 5. Aurora Johnson. 100-meter breaststroke - 1. Katlyn Griese; 6. Amanda McCord.