A prelude to the big swim meets

One more chance to fine-tune technique, one final occasion to fiddle with lineups, one last opportunity to get experience under the pressure of competition.

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For the Juneau-Douglas High School swim team, this weekend's Ketchikan Invitational meet will be the last regular-season tune-up before the most important events of the season - November's Region V and state meets.

The Crimson Bears will swim two meets in Ketchikan - one this evening, one on Saturday - and coach John Wray said there are still adjustments to be made before finalizing Juneau's region meet entries.

"We're still looking at a few people for the regional team - who, and in what events do they have the best possibility to qualify for the state championships," Wray said. "The meets during the season are like scrimmages. They're important, but we're not handing out ribbons or medals."

"This is the deciding meet before Southeast (Region V meet)," junior swimmer Lisse Focht said. "Since we have such a big team, some people will be cut (from the region roster)."

In addition to determining the remaining region roster spots, this weekend's meet will provide important experience in competition. Junior Kirk Fishel said some Crimson Bears visualize that opponents from some of the state's top high school programs are swimming alongside them during their races.

"We're going to try our best no matter what meet it is," said Fishel, whose events include the 200 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke. "(We're) pretending that Service or Dimond are right with us in the lanes."

Focht, whose times in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle races are among the state's best this season, said she still has some personal goals for the remainder of the season. Focht said the team has been doing intense practicing the past few weeks before they ease off and get rested for the Region V and state meets.

"It's hard work every day, but we're excited ... and looking forward to the results," she said.

"Our team is tired, and this is the last hard week for the kids who will be tapering into regionals," Wray said. "There are some torn-down muscles. No doubt they're sleeping well."

After returning from the Ketchikan meet, the Crimson Bears will have a week off from competition. They will travel to the Region V championship in Petersburg on Nov. 1-2.

This year's state meet will be held at Bartlett High School in Anchorage on Nov. 8-9.

Individual winners from the state's four region meets - plus those swimmers with the next 12 fastest times from the combined region meets - qualify for state. For relays, state berths go to the region winners and the next four fastest teams.

Andrew Krueger can be reached at akrueger@juneauempire.com.