22 Juneau swimmers make state
The waiting game ended for the Juneau-Douglas High School swim and dive team Monday as the Alaska School Activities Association announced the remaining qualifiers for this weekend's state swim and dive meet at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.
In all, 20 Crimson Bears qualify for state in 30 individual events and five relays, which should give Juneau a strong showing at state.
"I had to reach back into my brain to think if we have ever had that many qualifiers before," Juneau head swim coach John Wray said. "We've never had that many in my recollection. I don't remember having 30 entries too. I'm just real happy for the kids."
After the region meet on Saturday, only the winner of each event was assured of qualifying for state. The rest of the athletes had to wait until the ASAA compiled the next 12 fastest times of scores from the state's four region meets.
For the boys, freshman Paul Hughes automatically qualified with wins in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard medley relay and senior Forrest Preston qualified with a 200-yard freestyle victory.
Preston earned his second berth of the state tournament in the 500 free on Monday and will be joined in the pool by junior Jake Kreuzenstein and freshman Tyler Hennon, who also qualified for the 200 and 500 free. Junior Guy Barnes also qualified for the 500 free, giving Juneau four entries in the event.
Sophomore Kirk Fishel qualified in the 100 back and 200 individual medley and sophomore Olin Robus qualified in the 100 breast.
Junior diver Ryan Stidolph, who won the region title, will be joined by senior Greg Albrecht in the diving event.
The Juneau boys team also qualified its 200 medley 400 freestyle relay teams.
For the girls, sophomore Lisse Focht received automatic bids on Saturday by winning the 200 and 500 frees while junior Martha Kaiser won the 100 free. Kaiser also qualified in the 100 back on Monday.
Junior Weather Potdevin and sophomore Heather Harris qualified in the 200 and 500 free. Senior Christina DiCostanzo qualified in the 200 medley and 100 back and freshman Kelsey Potdevin qualified in the 50 free and 100 fly. Sophomore Natalie Hale will represent Juneau in the 100 fly.
Senior Liz Brooks earned her first spot on the state roster and will join freshman Marnita Coenraad, who won the region title, in the diving event.
All three Juneau girls' relay teams won region titles and senior Annie Fox qualified for state as a member of each team.
"Everyone I thought had a chance, made it," Wray said. "It's been a successful season up to this point. We'll cap it off and whatever happens, happens."
Jeff Kasper can be reached at jkasper@juneauempire.com.