Colony girls, boys swimming and diving sweep Northern Lights Conference meet

The Colony girls and boys swimming and diving teams swept the Northern Lights Conference swim meet Friday and Saturday at Soldotna High School.

The Knights girls scored 75 points for the victory, while Kodiak was second with 67. From the Kenai Peninsula, Kenai was third with 57, Soldotna was fifth with 43, and Seward and Homer tied for sixth with 13.

On the boys side, Colony had 85 points while runner-up Kodiak had 60. From the peninsula, Seward was third with 58, Soldotna was fourth with 47 and Kenai was sixth with 25.

The peninsula did claim two of the major awards, with Seward senior Nickolas Ambrosiani winning swimmer of the year on the boys side, and Soldotna senior Abriella Werner taking diver of the year for the girls.

Also, Kodiak’s Maggie Rocheleau was coach of the year, Kodiak’s Amaya Rocheleau was swimmer of the year on the girls side and Wasilla’s Travis Thornton was diver of the year on the boys side.

Werner had an 11-dive total of 439.15 to break her own school record, break the conference meet record and earn the top seed in the state meet, which is Friday and Saturday at the Dimond Park Aquatic Center in Juneau.

In early October at the Bartlett-Chugiak Invite, Werner hit 421.50 points to break Sasha Porter’s 2005 SoHi mark of 407.65.

For the past week and a half, though, Werner has been battling a quadriceps injury, so she did not have her expectations up for the conference meet.

She said about five visits to the chiropractor’s office got her in good enough shape to break her own school record and take down the 2018 conference meet record of 427.85.

“And just getting my mental part there,” Werner said. “When I figured out I probably had the chance to win, I was stressed out and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh.’

“Then this week, I just stopped thinking about that and just really got my head and started focusing on my dives.”

The 439.15 has Werner as the top seed at state, with conference rival Charlize McManus of Colony next at 398.80.

“I’ve just got to keep my mind-set right,” Werner said of state.

Ambrosiani won the 100-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke.

He said he got a bit frazzled in his 100 free, but was able to tough out the victory. In the 100 backstroke, he was happy he shaved half a second off his time.

At state, Ambrosiani will be seeded third in the 100 free and fourth in the 100 backstroke.

Ambrosiani also teamed with his twin, Bengimin Ambrosiani, and Oliver Trobaugh and Iver Gates to take second in the 200 medley relay and first in the 400 freestyle relay. Both relays are qualified for state.

“We gave it our best shot and didn’t come out on top,” Nickolas said of losing the 200 medley relay to Kodiak. “We missed it by two-hundredths of a second.

“It was nice to come back and get the gold in the (400 free relay).”

Seward head coach Solomon D’ Amico said Nickolas and Bengimin roughly split the votes for swimmer of the year.

Bengimin won the 50 free in 21.99 and was second in the 100 butterfly at 53.68.

“Those guys are arguably the two best swimmers in the region, and definitely two of the top five swimmers in the state,” D’ Amico said.

Bengimin is the top seed in the 50 freestyle and sixth seed in the 100 butterfly.

“For all four of their individual events, I feel they have a really solid chance of being top four and possibly on the podium,” D’ Amico said. “And quite possibly bringing both of the relays onto the podium as well.”

All the event winners at the conference meet qualified automatically for state, with additional qualifiers by time being announced Monday.

The following is a closer look at each peninsula team:

Homer Mariners

Homer head coach Brandon Darr said the season got off to a late start due to issues with the pool.

“We’ve been working hard and have put in a lot of effort since then,” Darr said. “I’m just happy with all they’ve done and how much they’ve progressed over the year.”

Cassidy Carroll qualified for state in the 50 freestyle and also is an alternate in the 100 backstroke. At the conference meet, Carroll was second in the 100 back and fourth in the 50 free.

The Mariners also got a seventh from Marina Co in the 100 butterfly and a sixth from Annabelle Franciscone in the 100 breaststroke.

Darr also was happy Samantha Angel was able to join Carroll, Franciscone and Co to take fifth in the 200 medley relay.

Kenai Central Kardinals

The Kardinals didn’t take any victories Saturday, but advance quite a few to state based on time.

“It’s a young group,” Kenai Central head coach William Hubler said. “They’re strong.

“We’ve got a lot of second-, third- and fourth-placers.”

The girls 400 freestyle relay of Sierra Hershberger, Abigail Price, Isla Crouse and Maria Anderson finished third at 3:52.15 to break a school record.

The old record was set in 2010 by Kaitlyn Louthan, Olivia Pfeifer, Mary Pat Mills and Kendra Ashwell at 3:52.15.

Friday, Kenai’s 400 freestyle relay had qualified at 4:01.73.

“They were just on fire,” Hubler said. “They put it together and went. That’s the best thing. They just got excited and believed in themselves.

“I knew they could do it and they took off.”

The Kardinals qualified for state in five individual events, with Abigail Price going in the 200 and 500 freestyle, Sierra Hershberger going in the 50 freestyle, Benjamin Merritt going in the 100 butterfly and David Price going in the 100 breaststroke. The girls 400 free relay also is going to state.

At the conference meet, Abigail Price was second in the 200 and 500 free and David Price was second in the 100 breaststroke.

Hubler also said he liked the performance of Eden Alioto in the 200 and 500 freestyles, and the performances of the girls 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.

Seward Seahawks

D’ Amico was proud of how his team of eight swimmers did.

“Given how many kids we have on our team and at our school, relative to everybody else, I still think we punch way above our weight,” D’ Amico said.

Friday, D’ Amico said 14 of 18 swims were season or personal bests, then Saturday he said over 80 percent of the swims met the criteria.

In addition to helping both relays to state, Gates qualified for state in the 50 and 100 freestyles.

D’ Amico said Trobaugh is a big part of the relay effort as well.

“If you would have looked at him two years ago, nobody would have thought he would have been a contributing member like he has shown himself to be,” D’ Amico said.

The coach said freshman Philip Trobaugh also was able to get best times.

On the girls side, sophomore Esme Wilder made state in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke.

Freshman Aubery Wilder just missed state — she is an alternate for the 100 freestyle — but D’ Amico said the near miss as a freshman shows the berths will come. The coach also said junior Hallee Schoening got big personal bests by learning to swim through pain.

Nickolas Ambrosiani thanked all his coaches and people who made the big conference meet happen, while D’ Amico narrowed that focus by thanking Leslie Jacoby for her work as an assistant coach this season.

Soldotna Stars

Herman said hosting a conference meet was a great way for the team, and specifically the seniors, to celebrate all the work they’ve put in to swimming.

“I’m really proud of this team, especially our seniors, they’ve been swimming for a really long time,” he said. “And the training we did this year is the toughest that most of them have ever gone through.

“So to be able to make it through all that and finish strong here is all they’ve wanted for years.”

In the girls 200 individual medley, senior Charisma Watkins swam 2:12.77 to take second and break a 2009 school record of 2:14.34 by Olivia Bowen.

Herman said Watkins has had her eye on that record for four years.

“In January, she went about 2:16 — a little over two seconds off this record,” he said. “So we knew it was really possible, but we didn’t want to put all that pressure on her.

“Seeing her absolutely smash the record was just amazing.”

Watkins also won the 100 butterfly and will swim in both events at state.

Senior Nikita Monyahan also had a big meet, winning the 200 freestyle in 1:49.65.

“The 200 free, he’s swam at regions every year, and it’s just gotten a little better, a little better each time,” Herman said. “His fastest time before today was a 1:51.

“So just completely smashing his old time, getting under 1:50, he’s been wanting to go under 1:49 since he was a sophomore.”

Monyahan also was third in the 100 butterfly and will compete in state at both events.

He also joined Michael Davidson, Derrick Jones and Benn Abel to finish second in the 200 free relay and third in the 400 free relay. Both relays are going to state.

Abel will go to state in the 50 and 100 freestyle, Jones will go in diving and Davidson will go in the 100 backstroke.

Also, Heidi Snyder is going to state in the 100 and 200 freestyle.

Northern Lights Conference meet

Friday, Saturday at Soldotna High School

Coach of the Year: Maggie Rocheleau, Kodiak.

Girls Swimmer of the Year: Amaya Rocheleau, Kodiak.

Boys Swimmer of the Year: Nickolas Ambrosiani, Seward.

Girls Diver of the Year: Abriella Werner, Soldotna.

Boys Diver of the Year: Travis Thornton, Wasilla.

GIRLS

Team scores: 1. Colony, 75; 2. Kodiak, 67; 3. Kenai Central, 57; 4. Palmer, 50; 5. Soldotna, 43; 6 (tie). Seward, Homer, 13; 8. Wasilla, 10.

200-yard medley relay — 1. Colony (Cooper, Anderson, Bunch, Blackburn), 1 minute, 57.12 seconds; 2. Palmer, 2:00.63; 3. Kenai, 2:13.11; 4. Wasilla, 2:19.07; 5. Homer, 2:21.28; 6. Soldotna, 2:26.24.

200 freestyle — 1. Hannah Cooper, Col, 1:59.68; 2. Abigail Price, Ken, 2:03.22; 3. Heidi Snyder, Sol, 2:04.08; 4. Emily Neo, Kod, 2:09.23; 5. Kendyl Ligman, Col, 2:11.87; 6. Eden Alioto, Ken, 2:18.21.

200 individual medley — 1. Jasmine Anderson, Col, 2:10.82; 2. Charisma Watkins, Sol, 2:12.77; 3. Isla Crouse, Ken, 2:26.30; 4. Zoe Burns, Sol, 2:28.59; 5. Aubrey Bunch, Col, 2:36.31; 6. Aubrey Stocker, Pal, 2:36.62.

50 freestyle — 1. Amaya Rocheleau, Kod, 24.44; 2. Morgan Hagen, Kod, 25.46; 3. Addie Charton, Pal, 25.74; 4. Cassidy Carroll, Hom, 26.04; 5. Sierra Hershberger, Ken, 26.45; 6. Nina Adams, Pal, 26.88.

Diving — 1. Abriella Warner, Sol, 439.15 (New region record, old record J. Chan, 427.85, 2018); 2. Charlize McManus, Col, 398.80; 3. Claire Wallstrum, Col, 362.00; 4. Samantha Grisham, Col, 350.10; 5. Molly Althens, Pal, 313.70; 6. Samantha Geoghegan, Was, 305.35.

100 butterfly — 1. Charisma Watkins, Sol, 1:01.08; 2. Esme Wilder, Sew, 1:04.50; 3. Emily Neo, Kod, 1:05.20; 4. Lucy Anderson, Ken, 1:12.10; 5. Makenzie Edgar, Col, 1:12.80; 6. Olivia Noffke, Col, 1:12.83.

100 freestyle — 1. Amaya Rochleau, Kod, 53.34; 2. Addie Charton, Pal, 56.95; 3. Aubrey Wilder, Sew, 58.44; 4. Lia Jones, Kod, 58.84; 5. Sierra Hershberger, Ken, 59.12; 6. Chloe Blackburn, Col, 59.19.

500 freestyle — 1. Hannah Cooper, Col, 5:21.94; 2. Abigail Price, Ken, 5:40.50; 3. Jade Bamford, Pal, 5:49.40; 4. Zoe Burns, Sol, 5:51.46; 5. Eden Alioto, Ken, 5:58.97; 6. Aubrey Bunch, Col, 6:02.82.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Kodiak (Hagen, Jones, Neo, Rocheleau), 1:42.19; 2. Kenai, 1:46.04; 3. Palmer, 1:47.56; 4. Soldotna, 1:47.96; 5. Colony, 1:53.73; 6. Wasilla, 2:01.16.

100 backstroke — 1. Morgan Hagen, Kod, 1:01.44; 2. Cassidy Carroll, Hom, 1:05.91; 3. Jade Bamford, Pal, 1:06.83; 4. Maria Anderson, Ken, 1:07.42; 5. Emily Stocker, Pal, 1:10.30; 6. Emily Boman, Was, 1:10.98.

100 breaststroke — 1. Jasmine Anderson, Col, 1:03.74; 2. Nina Adams, Pal, 1:13.41; 3. Esme Wilder, Sew, 1:14.27; 4. Lia Jones, Kod, 1:15.09; 5. Isla Crouse, Ken, 1:15.67; 6. Annabelle Franciscone, Hom, 1:19.05.

400 freestyle relay — 1. Kodiak (Neo, Hagen, Jones, Rocheleau), 3:46.37; 2. Kenai, 3:52.15; 3. Colony, 3:52.30; 4. Soldotna, 3:59.74; 5. Palmer, 4:16.03.

BOYS

Team scores: 1. Colony, 85; 2. Kodiak, 60; 3. Seward, 58; 4. Soldotna, 47; 5. Palmer, 34; 6. Kenai Central, 25; 7. Wasilla, 19.

200 medley relay — 1. Kodiak (Robinson, Berestoff, Burnside, Hubert), 1:41.26; 2. Seward, 1:41.28; 3. Palmer, 1:45.96; 4. Colony, 1:46.47; 5. Kenai, 1:52.90; 6. Soldotna, 1:53.59.

200 freestyle — 1. Nikita Monyahan, Sol, 1:49.65; 2. Cody Hubert, Kod, 1:50.69; 3. Kellan DenBleyker, Col, 1:51.36; 4. Pierce McDonough, Col, 1:53.82; 5. London Lee, Pal, 1:57.31; 6. Michael Branham, Was, 2:02.36.

200 IM — 1. Max Robinson, Kod, 2:03.13; 2. Reven Settle, Col, 2:09.38; 3. Enoch Frederickson, Sol, 2:15.94; 4. Patric Wilcox, Sol, 2:23.86; 5. Oliver Trobaugh, Sew, 2:25.80; 6. Mason Wallstrum, Col, 2:29.21.

50 freestyle — 1. Bengimin Ambrosiani, Sew, 21.99; 2. Aidan Houser, Pal, 22.15; 3. Jackson Charton, Pal, 22.81; 4. Iver Gates, Sew, 22.98; 5. Grady Dhondt, Col, 23.11; 6. Connor Burnside, Kod, 23.80.

Diving — 1. Travis Thornton, Was, 495.00; 2. Calvin Musgrave, Was, 398.80; 3. Theron Glover, Kod, 374.30; 4. Derrick Jones, Sol, 365.20; 5. Rowan Wyszkowski, Kod, 308.80; 6. Colter ose, Was, 303.25.

100 butterfly — 1. Isaiah Hulien, Col, 53.60; 2. Bengimin Ambrosiani, Sew, 53.68; 3. Nikita Monyahan, Sol, 54.95; 4. Landeyn Halstead, Col, 55.56; 5. Thomas, Smith, Col, 56.36; 6. Benjamin Merritt, Ken, 57.01.

100 freestyle — 1. Nickolas Ambrosiani, Sew, 48.50; 2. Aidan Houser, Pal, 48.95; 3. James Berestoff, Kod, 49.56; 4. Iver Gates, Sew, 51.01; 5. Grady Dhondt, Col, 51.21; 6. David Price, Ken, 52.67.

500 freestyle — 1. Isaiah Hulien, Col, 4:56.36; 2. Cody Hubert, Kod, 4:56.38; 3. Pierce McDonough, Col, 5:06.13; 4. Kellan DenBleyker, Col, 5:07.48; 5. Arthur Price, Ken, 5:40.63; 6. Michael Branham, Was, 5:50.41.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Colony (DenBleyker, Dhondt, Smith, Hulien), 1:32.88; 2. Soldotna, 1:33.10; 3. Palmer, 1:34.11; 4. Kenai, 1:41.77; 5. Wasilla, 1:50.27.

100 backstroke — 1. Nickolas Ambrosiani, Sew, 54.20; 2. Max Robinson, Kod, 55.12; 3. Reven Settle, Col, 58.79; 4. Thomas Smith, Col, 59.24; 5. Landeyn Halstead, Col, 59.27; 6. Michael Davidson, Sol, 1:00.24.

100 breaststroke — 1. James Berestoff, Kod, 1:01.29; 2. David Price, Ken, 1:05.74; 3. Enoch Frederickson, Sol, 1:08.19; 4. Hudson Duguid, Col, 1:10.60; 5. Peyton Katzenberger, Ken, 1:14.31; 6. Patric Wilcox, Sol, 1:15.65.

400 freestyle relay — 1. Seward (B. Ambrosiani, Gates, Trobaugh, N. Ambrosiani), 3:24.26; 2. Colony, 3:25.30; 3. Soldotna, 3:27.05; 4. Kodiak, 3:30.80; 5. Kenai, 3:57.34; 6. Palmer, 4:06.31.