KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The Kodiak High School Bears dominated the competition at the Region Three swimming and diving championships, which wrapped up Saturday here in Kodiak. It was the first regionals ever held in Kodiak, thanks to the new swimming pool. The Lady Bears won the region title handily, taking their fourth straight crown, this time by 74 points over the Homer Mariners. Coach John Lindquist said his team is experienced and talented:
— (Swimming 1 35 sec "We had the 400 freestyle … and it’s fun.")
The Kodiak girls were the heavy favorites going into the regions, and Lindquist wanted them to swim up to their potential, because that would give them a better chance at the state championships this weekend:
— (Swimming 2 25 sec "It was a lot of just … relay is seeded second.")
The boys won the region crown too, but needed a win in the last event of the meet to eke out a one-point victory over Homer, 64-to-63. That win came in the 400-freestyle relay, and gave the Bears their eighth championship in the past decade.
— (Swimming 3 44 sec "It was pretty exciting because … us the one-point victory.")
He said the boys in the relay all set personal bests in that race to overcome the lead that Winter Heaven staked the Kardinals to.
Lindquist says the state championship won’t be as easy for the Bears as the regions were:
— (Swimming 4 35 sec "There’s actually several teams … be second at state.")
The girls’ final rankings had Kodiak with 117 points, followed by Homer’s 43 and Wasilla’s 41. Kenai was 4th just one point behind. Valdez was 5th, followed by Seward, Soldotna, Palmer and Colony.
The Kodiak boys had 64 points, and Homer 63. Seward was third with 55, followed by Soldotna, Kenai, Colony, Palmer and Wasilla.
The state championship starts Friday at Bartlett High and the Central Swim Club in Anchorage.
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