Good times by all
Athletes prime for regions at Kenai meet
While Homer High School swimmers and divers swept a quad meet at Kenai Saturday, all teams involved came away from the competition with positive results -- clipboards full of personal-best times just in time for the Region III Championships.
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With 167 points on the girls side, the Mariners scored 19 more points than the scores of all other competitors--Seward, Skyview and Kenai--combined.
The Homer boys surpassed that feat, beating the combined scores of the other schools by 26 points. The Homer boys scored 139 points.
Kenai's girls scored 71 points, followed by Skyview with 68 points and Seward with nine points.
Kenai's Devon Anderson swims the 100-yard backstroke.
Photo by M. Scott Moon
Kenai's boys scored 57 points, followed by Seward's boys with 52 points and Skyview's boys with four points.
The teams attended the somewhat impromptu meet, organized by Kenai coach William Hubler, to prepare their swimmers for the Region III Championships in Palmer later this week.
Homer coach Trent Fischer said he was pleased with his swimmers. He was glad the team participated in the event and said he appreciated Hubler's effort in organizing it.
"That was really positive," he said.
All coaches said they were glad to have the opportunity to place their swimmers in a meet the weekend before the regional meet. They said they were also impressed with the number of personal bests their swimmers achieved.
Among Homer's personal bests were Erica Hendrickson's 1:50.59 in the 200-yard freestyle and her 5:41.51 in the 500 freestyle. Erin Pate had her fastest time in three years in the 100 freestyle, 57.37. Jake Bell won the 100 butterfly, and his time, 59.71, was also a personal best.
Kenai diver Rachel Knowles goes to work Saturday.
Photo by M. Scott Moon
Fischer said he was proud of the whole team.
"They're doing really well," he said. "We have a great bunch of kids this year."
Kenai co-coach Eleanor Thomson said the Kardinals swimmers were focusing mostly on improving their times, rather than placing against competitors. Many Kenai swimmers had personal bests during the meet, and Thomson said swimmers J.D. Pault, Devon Anderson, Ben Haring, Jennifer Jenkins, and diver Morgan Hansen were performing especially well.
Haring's times for the 50 freestyle are close to the school's record. He said he plans to break the record during the regional meet.
Thomson said she thought the swimmers worked very well as a team.
"They've blended together and they're working extremely well together," she said.
Hubler concurred and said that he is looking forward to watching the team perform at the region meet. He added that he hopes to see more swimmers achieve personal bests in the Palmer pool.
"It's going to be a competitive meet and it's going to be a fun meet," Hubler said.
Seward coach Janet VanDriessche said the Seahawks had enjoyed a good season. A number of Seahawk swimmers had personal bests Saturday, including Tara Ganser, Leane Ganser, Tom Wohlworth, Jonah Swiderski, Matteo Bonelli, Gino Maggiore and Nick Swann.
"I've been working on my form all this week," said Maggiore, who called his personal best in the 100 breaststroke, 1:19.32, "awesome."
Maggiore said he does not expect to qualify to compete at the state level.
"But I'm going to try as hard as I can," he said.
Swann was enthusiastic about his personal bests in the 100 freestyle, 1:09.63, and the 100 breaststroke, 1:25.52. He took four seconds off his personal best times for both events.
"I was really pumped," Swann said.
Skyview coach Joanne Wainright said she is pleased with the Panthers' performance this year.
"We have been progressing," she said. "We have been moving forward."
"Today, I thought, was an excellent meet."
Many of Skyview's swimmers also had personal bests during the meet. Morgan Lions took five seconds off her time for the 100 freestyle.
"That was my goal for the meet today," she said.
Saturday's event was Ashley Risch's last meet. She had personal bests in every event in which she competed.
"That was good," Risch said.
Skyview's Troy Eberline had a personal best in the 100 backstroke with 1:05.16.
"It's a great race for him," Wainright said.
Stephanie Lambe, Lizzie Crane and every Skyview girl in the 500 freestyle all had personal bests as well.
Wainright expressed optimism about the region meet.
"We're looking to do as many personal best times (as possible) and to get some state qualifiers," she said.
KENAI QUAD MEET
At Kenai
Saturday
GIRLS
TEAM SCORES -- 1. Homer, 167; 2. Kenai, 71; 3. Skyview, 68; 4. Seward, 9.
200 MEDLEY RELAY-- 1. Homer A, 2:01.96; 2. Skyview A, 2:08.21; 3. Homer B, 2:08.99; 4. Kenai A, 2:29.31; 5. Skyview B, 2:57.51.
200 FREESTYLE -- 1. Erica Hendrickson, Hom, 1:50.59; 2. Sarah Christian, Hom, 1:51.91; 3. Ruth McConnell, Ken, 1:56.70; 4. Ashley Risch, Sky, 1:58.64; 5. Jessica Riley, Hom, 2:22.93; 6. Lizzie Crane, Sky, 2:40.46.
200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY -- 1. Monica Ulmer, Hom, 2:19.07; 2. Renae Rykaczewski, Hom, 2:23.29; 3. Rosie Wohlgemuth, Hom, 2:32.41; 4. Kelsie Remsen, Ken, 2:49.31.
50 FREESTYLE -- 1. Stephanie Lambe, Sky, 26.72; 2. Tara Ganser, Sew, 26.81; 3. Rhannon Jennings, Hom, 27.95; 4. Hannah Baechler, Hom, 28.13; 5. Katherine Amen, Ken, 28.41; 6. Marcie Woodard, Ken, 28.59.
DIVING -- 1. Morgan Hansen, Ken, 185.10; 2. Rachel Knowles, Ken, 179.55; 3. Lia Sloth, Hom, 134.20; 4. Marina Holt, Sky, 70.35; 5. Maria Rich, Sky, 61.60; 6. Anna Evenson, Sky, 56.10.
100 BUTTERFLY -- 1. Renae Rycaczewski, Hom, 1:04.97; 2. Jennifer Jenkins, Ken, 1:06.68; 3. Sarah Christian, Hom, 1:09.48; 4. Edith Lane, Hom, 1:13.73; 5. April Friedly, Sky, 1:13.98.
100 FREESTYLE -- 1. Erin Pate, Hom, 57.37; 2. Stephanie Lambe, Sky, 58.34; 3. Tara Ganser, Sew, 1:00.37; 4. Danielle Duggar, Hom, 1:03.13; 5. Rhannon Jennings, Hom, 1:03.24; 6. Kelsie Remsen, Ken, 1:07.54.
500 FREESTYLE -- 1. Erica Hendrickson, Hom, 5:41.51; 2. Hannah Baechler, Hom, 5:54.55; 3. Jennifer Jenkins, Ken, 6:21.90; 4. Katherine Amen, Ken, 6:29.40; 5. Marcie Woodard, Ken, 6:51.35; 6. Roxy Kotzin, Sky, 7:20.94.
200 FREESTYLE RELAY -- 1. Homer A, 1:50.83; 2. Skyview A, 1:54.06; 3. Kenai A, 1:54.64; 4. Kenai B, 2:00.50; 5. Homer B, 2:02.62; 6. Skyview B, 2:16.38.
100 BACKSTROKE -- 1. Erin Pate, Hom, 1:03.49; 2. Edith Lane, Hom, 1:13.30; 3. Ashley Risch, Sky, 1:13.42; 4. Ruth McConnell, Ken, 1:17.95.
100 BREASTSTROKE -- 1. Monica Ulmer, Hom, 1:12.17; 2. Fianna Condon, Hom, 1:17.61; 3. April Friedly, Sky, 1:20.19; 4. Lizzie Crane, Sky, 1:29.38; 5. Madeline Lefton, Hom, 1:29.86; 6. Jenae Saltzgiver, Ken, 1:30.09.
400 FREESTYLE RELAY -- 1. Homer A, 4:01.29; 2. Kenai A, 4:17.73; 3. Homer B, 4:25.22; 4. Skyview A, 5:34.49.
TEAM SCORES -- 1. Homer, 139; 2. Kenai, 57; 3. Seward, 52; 4. Skyview.
200 MEDLEY RELAY -- 1. Homer A, 1:50.59; 2. Kenai A, 1:51.91; 3. Seward A, 1:56.70; 4. Homer B, 1:58.64.
200 FREESTYLE -- 1. Ben Kuhns, Hom, 1:58.15; 2. Andy Vait, Hom, 2:00.81; 3. Matteo Bonelli, Sew, 2:14.56; Owen Berklund, Sew, 2:18.82; 5. Tom Wohlworth, Sew, 2:49.61.
200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY -- 1. Evan Smith, Hom, 2:12.82; 2. J.D. Pault, Ken, 2:16.10; 3. Daryl Wythe, Hom, 2:17.67; 4. J.C. Chapple, Hom, 2:25.93.
50 FREESTYLE -- 1. Ben Haring, Ken, 23.13; 2. Jake Bell, Hom, 23.63; 3. Jonah Swiderski, Sew, 24.01; 4. Wes Kuhns, Hom, 24.37; 5. Devon Anderson, Ken, 25.18; 6. Jacob Boulden, Sew, 25.31.
DIVING -- 1. Wes Busby, Hom, 103.55; 2. Chris Calhoun, Hom, 102.50.
100 BUTTERFLY -- 1. Jake Bell, Hom, 59.71; 2. Evan Smith, Hom, 59.93; 3. Wes Kuhns, Hom, 1:00.94; 4. Jesse Tapley, Ken, 1:05.92; 5. Owen Berklund, Sew, 1:09.40.
100 FREESTYLE -- 1. Jonah Swiderski, Sew, 55.21; 2. Tribtan Landon, Hom, 56.62; 3. Lance Haggerty, Hom, 56.62; 4. Matteo Bonelli, Sew, 57.37; 5. Matt Beamont, Hom, 1:04.01; 6. Nick Swann, Sew, 1:09.63.
500 FREESTYLE -- 1. Ben Haring, Ken, 5:33.67.
200 FREESTYLE RELAY -- 1. Homer A, 1:40.20; 2. Kenai A, 25.71; 3. Seward A, 1:43.42.
100 BACKSTROKE -- 1. Ben Kuhns, Hom, 1:00.58; 2. Devon Anderson, Ken, 1:00.91; 3. Troy Eberline, Sky, 1:05.16; 4. Travis Riley, Hom, 1:05.43; 5. Tom Wohlworth, Sew, 1:31.14; 6. Gavin Baker, Ken, 1:55.35.
100 BREASTSTROKE -- 1. Jacob Boulden, Sew, 1:08.19; 2. J.D. Pault, Ken, 1:08.25; 3. Andy Vait, Hom, 1:08.64; 4. J.C. Chapple, Hom, 1:09.71; 5. Jesse Tapley, Ken, 1:15.56; 6. Matt Beamont, Hom, 1:18.64.
400 FREESTYLE -- 1. Homer A, 3:35.82.