Warriors excited about potential

WASILLA — Armed with a few defending region champions and riding the momentum created by a successful regular season, Wasilla head coach Matt Hanley is pretty excited about the potential of his boys’ swimming and diving squad at Region III Championships.

“I have a pretty strong feeling the boys will show up big at regions,” Hanley said of the two-day meet that starts today in Valdez. “The boys are looking strong, swimming fast and have the drive to meet their big goals.”

Wasilla has been led throughout the 2008 season by the Frey brothers.

Senior Charles Frey is the defending region champion in the 100-yard backstroke. Junior Jeff Frey, swimming in his first season with the Warriors after transferring from rival Colony, won the 100 and 200 freestyle races for the Knights at the region championships last year.

“Jeff has been swimming quicker,” Hanley said. “Charles is a senior who wants to go out with some fire.”

Christian Long is another defending region champion, winning last season in the 500 freestyle.

Long, Charles Frey and Max Merriam swam three of the four legs on the 200 individual medley team that also won a region crown last season.

The Warriors’ 200 medley team, which includes Jeff Frey this season, currently has the state’s top time this season, with a mark of 1 minute, 42.35 seconds, according to alaskaswimming.org.

Jeff Frey is ranked among the top swimmers individually in the state in several different events.

Frey has the third-best time in the 100 freestyle (49.3 seconds), fourth-best in the 200 freestyle (1:47.43) and 50 freestyle (22 seconds) and fifth-best in the 500 freestyle (4:57.50.

He is the top swimmer in Region III in each of those events except the 50 freestyle.

Long is ranked in the top-10 twice. He is seventh in the 500 freestyle (4:59.47) and ninth in the 200 freestyle (1:50.46).

Long is second to only Jeff Frey in Region III in both categories.

Wasilla senior David Kennedy is second in the state in diving.

Ranked first in the state in diving on the girls’ side is Kennedy’s younger sister Rachel, the defending region champ in the 1-meter dive.

“She’s just been looking incredible on the board,” Hanley said.

Hanley said Rachel Kennedy is part of a Wasilla girls team that could surprise this weekend.

“I’m looking for the ladies to show up bigger than expected,” Hanley said. “I think they’ll do Wasilla proud.”

Another key swimmer for Wasilla, Hanley said, is senior captain Caity Stigen, who posted a pair of second-place finishes at regions last year.

Stigen was the runner-up in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

Colony also has a pair of region runner-ups who will be fighting for titles this weekend.

On the girls’ side, Katelyn Payne finished second in the 500 freestyle at the Region III Championships last season, while Rhowe Stefanski was second in the 50 freestyle.

The winner of each individual event and relay during the Region III meet will automatically earn a berth in the state championships scheduled for Nov. 7-8 at the Bartlett Pool.

The top eight swimmers in each event in each region are eligible to be considered for the state meet. Once the top eight swimmers from each event from each region are collected, the top 12 swimmers from each event in the state will earn berths to the state tourney.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.