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The postseason march toward back-to-back state titles for the Juneau-Douglas boys' swim team begins this weekend in Sitka at the Region V meet, where the Crimson Bears are the odds-on favorite to run away with another regionaltitle.

JDHS coach Kathrin Millhorn said the boys are readyto go.

"They're well rested and I think they're feeling good," she said. "We've watched their energy level come up significantly in the last week just by virtue of their rest cycle where they're not swimming as much, and they haven't had to do morning practices. We're really excited to see how they perform this weekend.

"I think they're going todo great."

Sophomore freestyle swimmer Calder Otsea said the region meet is theirs to lose, and the real competition will be at next weekend's state meet at Anchorage's Bartlett High School.

"I think we have to go and show people that we're the competition, and show that we can win state this year again," he said. "We need to winour relays."

JDHS is taking 28 swimmers and divers, and Millhorn said the girls' team has a good chance to do well after struggling a bit during the year. Virtually the entire team has battled the flu at some point or another throughout the season. The top 16 times state-wide from each event qualify for the state championship meet.

"They've been tired and they've still been swimming some of their best times," she said. "I think being well rested, they'll find that they're swimming a lot faster than theyexpect.

"I think they'll be pleasantly surprised."

Senior freestyle swimmer Tessa Beedle said the girls' team is looking to win.

"It's going to be pretty close between Ketchikan and Juneau," she said. "We've won for a few years in the past, and we really want to win again this year, so this will be big for the seniors and myself. For some of us, this will be our last meet so we're looking to get our best times."

JDHS dive coach Hans Marx said his divers have been steadily improving as the season went on.

"We're looking pretty good," he said. "We have a strong group of kids this year, two boys and two girls, and they're diving pretty strong. It's been exciting. A lot of these dives are finished dives now, so it's mostly just muscle memory. They'll be doing 11 dives this weekend, eight the first day and three for the finals. I'm hoping all four Juneau-Douglas kids will go to state.

"If they're all on their game, they should be able to diveat state."

Junior diver Samantha Sharp said she's excited but nervous while she's trying to perfect the back one and a half, and the reverse one and a half dives.

"It's going to be intense because we have to do 11 dives," she said. "I'm looking at throwing probably some of the hardest dives in the book, and my teammate, both of us have a good chance of going to state, and both of the guys have a good chance to go."

TMHS dive coach Tim Fraychineaud said senior Zeeba Sanchez should make a return trip to the final meet.

"Right now, we've got Zeeba, and she's been diving really well for us," he said. "If she has a good meet this weekend, I expect she'll be going to state. Zeeba's going to be adding a front somersault full twist, and she's been trying to get that going."

Sanchez, who finished third at last year's region meet, said this weekend is a big deal for her.

"Most of us are doing really well, and Thunder Mountain is mostly a freshman team," she said. "I'm shooting for second. I would (shoot for first), but my degree of difficulty is a little lower than most people's, but I'm feeling really good abouteverything."

TMHS swim coach Jason Wilson said he hopes to have a couple of kids qualify for state.

"I'm actually really excited," he said. "We have some kids traveling to a meet for the first time, so that's an experience by itself. There's a big difference between the region meet and the regular meets that we go to. The atmosphere is different, and there's going to be a lot of fans there supporting the teams.

"My expectations are that we taper correctly, the kids swim really well and we have our best times," he continued. "We do have some kids who are borderline top 16, and even if you don't win at regions, you still get to travel. We have a few that might sneak in there. We'll see what happens."