KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
Kodiak High School swimming coach John Lindquist appeared on Saturday’s Jock of the Rock with two of his top swimmers, senior Celeste Beck-Goodell and junior Jori Lindquist. It was one week to the day since they decisively won the Alaska State Swimming and Diving Championship at the state meet in Anchorage.
After taking second the last two seasons – losing last year by one point in the final event – the Lady Bears beat second place this year by 37 points.
Beck-Goodell and Jori Lindquist said the second-place finishes really served to inspire the team this year.
— (Swimming 1 45 sec "Well, my sophomore year … it still was hard.")
The Lady Bears were led to the state title by a pair of freshmen, Ila Hughes and Tahna Lindquist, who each won two state titles and were on the relay team that won a fifth.
Coach Lindquist told co-host Derek Clarkston the freshmen’s effort really put the team over the top:
— (Swimming 2 43 sec "Well I’ve been coaching … margin to win by.")
The two freshmen joined with Beck-Goodell and Jori Lindquist in winning the 400-yard freestyle relay, doing it in a time that was the second fastest in state history:
– (Swimming 3 35 sec "I started off with Jori … that’s pretty good in swimming.")
Jori Lindquist and Beck-Goodell said the swimmers developed a pre-race ritual during the season that served as a team-building exercise:
— (Swimming 4 46 sec "We started dancing to … warmed up for swimming.")
The swimmers are currently taking a break from the pool, on the orders of Coach Lindquist. He doesn’t want them getting burnt out during the Kingfishers swim season that starts next month. The Kingfishers compete against other swim clubs in the state, and will be competing in the Pacific Northwest as well.
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