Defending the crown

The Juneau-Douglas High School boys swimming and diving team took some unexpected hits over the summer, but the goal remains the same for the defending state co-champion Crimson Bears.

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The Juneau boys, who tied with Soldotna for the team championship, still expect to contend for another state title, even if a family move and health problems took away the two swimmers who combined to win three individual events for the Crimson Bears last season.

The Juneau girls tied for fifth at state last year (with Colony) and they're looking to move up in the standings.

"We decided we're not going to play the woulda, coulda game," Juneau head coach John Wray said. "We're basically going to use the same approach we had last year."

"I hope so, I don't think we're a far shot," Juneau senior boys captain OIin Robus said when asked about the team's chances to repeat.

Juneau and the rest of the Southeast swim teams open their season on Friday and Saturday, when they compete in the Ketchikan Invitational.

"All the other schools up north already had a meet last weekend," Wray said. "We just want to get in the water and swim. We plan to put some people in some challenging positions."

The Crimson Bears expected to lose two of their boys state-meet qualifiers to graduation. But over the summer, they lost more key swimmers.

The Hughes family moved to Tacoma, Wash., which cost Juneau junior Paul Hughes (the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke state champion) and sophomore Aaron Hughes (ninth in the 100 breast at state). Health problems will probably take away senior Kirk Fishel, who won the 100 backstroke at state and was fourth in the 200 IM.

Even with those losses, the Crimson Bears are optimistic. They still have several returning state-meet swimmers, and there are some fast young swimmers looking to make waves.

Robus and junior Q Smyth teamed up with Paul Hughes and Fishel to win the state title in the 200 medley relay last year. Robus finished 12th in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 breast, while Smyth was 11th in the 100 freestyle and swam on all three of Juneau's relays.

Junior Tyler Hennon swam on two relay teams at the state meet and finished ninth in the boys 100 back. Senior Gabe Kelley, who is the captain of the diving team, finished 12th last year at state.

Juneau's hopes were buoyed by the addition of freshman Kyle O'Brien, who owns six Alaska Swimming age group records and is a longtime club swimmer.

The Crimson Bears will get some depth from senior Joe Fox, junior Abe Levy, sophomore Matt Josephson and sophomore Travis Blair, while senior Patrick Hoke could push Kelley in the diving event.

"It's changed," Robus said of the team's makeup. "We've gained a couple of good swimmers, so we're still strong. It's definitely a different team, though. Some people will have to pick it up for us. The boys team's got a good bit of depth and I feel stronger."

The girls team lost several swimmers to graduation, but there is still a strong nucleus for the season.

Leading the way will be four seniors - co-captain Heather Harris in the middle distance events, co-captain Lisse Focht in the distance events, Natalie Hale in the butterfly and backstroke and co-captain Robyn Grayson in the breaststroke.

Other returning swimmers include juniors Kelsey Potdevin and Tally Teal. Junior Marnita Coenraad will lead the diving team, with help from sophomore Lexy Wagoner.

At last year's state meet, Potdevin finished fifth in the 100 back and 12th in the 100 free; Focht took sixth in the 500 free and ninth in the 200 free; Coenraad was fifth in the diving event; Wagoner was 10th in the diving; Harris was 14th in the 100 free and Grayson was 16th in the 200 IM. Potdevin, Grayson, Harris and Focht all swam on various Juneau relay teams at last year's state meet.

New to the team are three freshmen swimmers - Amanda Jones, Julia DiCostanzo and Kacey Klein - and freshman diver Kaitlin Niewoehner. The three swimmers are longtime Glacier Swim Club members, and Wray said Niewoehner shows a lot of promise.

"I feel really good," Grayson said about the team's chances. "There's a real fine air of motivation at practice. I think the ones in my age group, the seniors, are really strong. And that freshman group is kind of the same way we were. We're trying for more than last year."

New Glacier Swim Club coach David Maker, a former college swim coach, is assisting Wray. Cathy Tide returns to coach the divers.

The Crimson Bears will be on the road most of the season. After this weekend's meet in Ketchikan, they host the Juneau Invitational on Sept. 19-20 for their only home meet. The Crimson Bears will be in Fairbanks on Sept. 26-27, at the Sitka Invitational on Oct. 3-4 and at the Petersburg Invitational on Oct. 17-18.

The Region V meet is Oct. 31-Nov. 1 in Ketchikan, and the state meet is Nov. 7-8 at Anchorage's Bartlett High School.

"I'm really enthused about the team," Wray said.

Charles Bingham can be reached at cbingham@juneauempire.com.