Kenai Invitational: Homer’s Carroll wins 50 freestyle

The Colony girls and boys swimming and diving teams swept the Kenai Invitational on Friday and Saturday at Kenai Central High School.

The Knights girls edged the Kardinals 103-102 for the girls title. Homer was fourth with 28, Soldotna was fifth with 16 and Seward was seventh with five.

The Colony boys dominated, taking all 11 events for a score of 171. The Kardinals were next with 77, while Soldotna was fourth with 21 and Seward was fifth with three.

Kenai junior Abigail Price had a huge meet as the Kards girls actually won six events at the meet to Colony’s three.

Price won two individual events and anchored two relays to victory.

Her headlining victory came in the 200-yard individual medley, where she clocked 2 minutes, 18.32 seconds, to break the 1991 school record of Mendy Benson at 2:20.48.

Benson, a 1993 graduate of KCHS, is in the Alaska High School Hall of Fame. According to her profile, not only was she a two-time state champion in the 50 freestyle, but she also was a four-year starter on the basketball team, helping the Kards to first-, second- and fourth-place finishes at the Class 4A state tournament.

Price also had taken Benson’s 1991 school record in the 100 butterfly earlier this season by clocking 1:00.42.

“It’s a really big deal for me,” Price said. “I really want to help raise up other swimmers, to help them get those records too.

“I want them to know how I feel. It feels really good to have my name up on the board.”

Price isn’t even focusing on the butterfly and individual medley. Her focus in the 200- and 500-yard freestyles.

Kenai head coach Will Hubler put Price in different events early in the season. He knew she would be strong, but was surprised when Benson’s records fell.

Price also wasn’t expecting the records. She said she listened to music before the races to get in the groove, said a prayer and went for it.

“I also want to thank my parents,” Price said of Richard and Trish Price. “They helped me with diet and exercise, and a lot of dry-land work that really helped push me.”

Price also won the 500 freestyle in 5:29.08, and teamed with Sierra Hershberger, Isla Crouse and Ra’ah Roady to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:47.35 and the 400 freestyle relay in 3:57.05.

Hubler said he has a group of 22 swimmers out for the team, but it’s a strong group across the board.

Hershberger also took the 100 freestyle in 58.94, while Hershberger, Lucy Anderson, Emma Castimore and Michelle Duffield won the 200 medley relay in 2:10.42.

On the boys side, Hubler said the group has a nice mix of youth and experience. He credited Lyman McBride (second in 200 freestyle), David Price (second in 100 breaststroke) and Jason Johnson (third in 100 freestyle) with strong meets.

Hubler said the team’s strong performance came despite some illness going through the group.

“We’re about where I want to be in the middle of the season,” Hubler said. “They’re looking really strong, and I’m hoping to have them ready for regions.

“That’s our goal — regions and state.”

Soldotna head coach Luke Herman said there are about 20 swimmers out for his squad this season. He said the Stars are rebuilding after losing about 10 seniors after last season.

“The highlights were we had a handful of personal bests,” Herman said. “We have a very young team this year, so just them stepping up and racing competitively for only the third time this season is good to see.”

Zoe Burns had the top performance for the Stars, taking third in the 500 freestyle at 6:16.07.

Herman also mentioned Dwight Brown’s fourth in the 500 freestyle, and senior Johnathan White taking fifth in the 200 free and sixth in the 100 free with a new personal best.

First-year Homer head coach Kane Graham had five swimmers at the meet and he said he has about 10 on the team.

The highlight for Homer was Cassidy Carroll winning the 50 freestyle in 27.86.

Graham said this is the third meet for his squad, so the Mariners are still getting in the groove of things. He added Homer’s team has built up compared to last season.

“We assigned a lot of relays today,” Graham said. “Just to get the team camaraderie up for the girls.

“Overall, it was a solid performance from everybody.”

For Seward, Aubrey Wilder was fourth in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 butterfly. Oliver Trobaugh was fourth in the 100 butterfly.

The swim teams head to the Seward Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 28, with swimming starting at 10:40 a.m.

Kenai Invitational

Friday, Saturday at Kenai Central

GIRLS

Team scores: 1. Colony, 103; 2. Kenai, 102; 3. Palmer, 65; 4. Homer, 28; 5. Soldotna, 16; 7. Unalaska, 8; 8. Seward, 5.

200-yard medley relay — 1. Kenai (Anderson, Castimore, Hershberger, Duffield), 2 minutes, 10.42 seconds; 2. Colony, 2:15.16; 3. Colony, 2:15.84; 4. Homer, 2:18.44; 5. Palmer, 2:21.59; 6. Unalaska, 2:29.08.

200 freestyle — 1. Jerzey Lane, Col, 2:11.93; 2. Isla Crouse, Ken, 2:12.85; 3. Kendyl Ligman, Col, 2:17.36; 4. Mollyann Dunlap, Pal, 2:24.84; 5. Michelle Duffield, Ken, 2:33.82; 6. Addison McBee, Pal, 2:39.48.

200 IM — 1. Abigail Price, Ken, 2:18.32; 2. Kylie Benner, Pal, 2:20.52; 3. Hannah Cooper, Col, 2:21.23; 4. Ra’ah Roady, Ken, 2:38.64; 5. Aubrey Stocker, Pal, 2:42.60; 6. Aubrey Bunch, Col, 2:46.10.

50 freestyle — 1. Cassidy Carroll, Hom, 27.86; 2. Emma Castimore, Ken, 28.11; 3. Chloe Blackburn, Col, 28.12; 4. Aubrey Wilder, Sew, 28.14; 5. Nina Adams, Pal, 28.15; 6. Teagan Havenmeister, Pal, 28.59.

Diving — 1. Charlize McManus, Col, 389.05; 2. Claire Wallstrum, Col, 348.15; 3. Samantha Grisham, Col, 317.95; 4. Molly Athens, Pal, 279.35.

100 butterfly — 1. Kylie Benner, Pal, 1:02.54; 2. Jerzey Lane, Col, 1:08.12; 3. Chloe Blackburn, Col, 1:11.21; 4. Aubrey Bunch, Col, 1:13.51; 5. Aubrey Wilder, Sew, 1:16.92; 6. Gen Sheldon, Sol, 1:34.93.

100 freestyle — 1. Sierra Hershberger, Ken, 58.94; 2. Katie Dollick, Col, 1:00.09; 3. Ra’ah Roady, Ken, 1:01.78; 4. Maraya Dunford, Col, 1:02.11; 5. Jade Bamford, Pal, 1:02.91; 6. Teagan Havemeister, Pal, 1:03.07.

500 freestyle — 1. Abigail Price, Ken, 5:29.08; 2. Hannah Cooper, Col, 5:38.06; 3. Zoe Burns, Sol, 6:16.07; 4. Katie Hallam, Hom, 6:22.20; 5. Briston Neumann, Pal, 6:38.05; 6. Meili Smith, Col, 6:43.76.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Kenai (Hershberger, Crouse, Roady, Price), 1:47.35; 2. Palmer, 1:59.23; 3. Kenai, 2:00.21; 4. Homer, 2:02.59; 5. Soldotna, 2:05.42; 6. Unalaska, 2:16.44.

100 backstroke — 1. Katie Dollick, Col, 1:07.56; 2. Jade Bamford, Pal, 1:09.22; 3. Emma Castimore, Ken, 1:09.55; 4. Meili Smith, Col, 1:09.56; 5. Lucy Anderson, Ken, 1:12.59; 6. Meriedi Morrison, Ken, 1:18.85.

100 breaststroke — 1. Nina Adams, Pal, 1:15.69; 2. Isla Crouse, Ken, 1:17.36; 3. Adyson Scott, Un, 1:18.70; 4. Kiana Colwell, Col, 1:29.71; 5. Gen Sheldon, Sol, 1:33.88; 6. Dorothy Brown, Sol, 1:39.91.

400 freestyle relay — 1. Kenai (Hershberger, Crouse, Roady, Price), 3:57.05; 2. Palmer, 4:10.83; 3. Colony, 4:25.07; 4. Homer, 4:42.28; 5. Soldotna, 5:07.34; 6. Colony, 5:22.65.

BOYS

Team scores: 1. Colony, 171; 2. Kenai, 77; 3. Palmer, 36; 4. Soldotna, 21; 5. Seward, 3.

200 medley relay — 1. Colony (Settle, Duguid, Hulien, Gates), 1:43.17; 2. Kenai, 1:50.84; 3. Palmer, 1:59.72; 4. Colony, 2:08.19; 5. Kenai, 2:09.97; 6. Palmer, 2:11.75.

200 freestyle — 1. Iver Gates, Col, 1:59.29; 2. Lyman McBride, Ken, 2:08.27; 3. Peyton Katzenberger, Ken, 2:08.38; 4. Finn Nordstrom, Col, 2:10.50; 5. Johnathan White, Sol, 2:11.87; 6. Gunnar Allen, Col, 2:19.75.

200 IM — 1. Pierce McDonough, Col, 2:13.94; 2. Beck LaBoucane, Col, 2:16.21; 3. Landeyn Halstead, Col, 2:22.72; 4. Patric Wilcox, Sol, 2:29.08; 5. Everett Poulin, Ken, 2:30.29; 6. Dwight Brown, Sol, 2:33.33.

50 freestyle — 1. Thomas Smith, Col, 23.44; 2. Jackson Charton, Pal, 23.59; 3. Hudson Duguid, Col, 24.34; 4. David Price, Ken, 24.38; 5. Jason Johnson, Ken, 25.12; 6. Landeyn Halstead, Col, 25.90.

100 butterfly — 1. Isaiah Hulien, Col, 53.14; 2. Thomas Smith, Col, 55.98; 3. Benjamin Merritt, Ken, 1:00.21; 4. Oliver Trobaugh, Sew, 1:04.01; 5. Eli Farabaugh, Pal, 1:10.13; 6. Finn Nordstrom, Col, 1:15.78.

100 freestyle — 1. Reven Settle, Col, 53.02; 2. Rhone Leach, Col, 55.80; 3. Jason Johnson, Ken, 58.06; 4. Parker Lysdahl, Col, 58.50; 5. Vincent Moore, Ken, 1:00.04; 6. Johnathan White, Sol, 1:00.20.

500 freestyle — 1. Beck LaBoucane, Col, 5:36.23; 2. Jackson Charton, Pal, 5:38.51; 3. Iver Gates, Col, 5:40.30; 4. Dwight Brown, Sol, 5:53.70; 5. Lyman McBride, Ken, 6:00.77; 6. Adam Weber, Pal, 6:38.59.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Colony (McDonough, LaBoucane, Gates, Hulien), 1:31.49; 2. Colony, 1:39.37; 3. Palmer, 1:42.51; 4. Kenai, 1:45.90; 5. Soldotna, 1:51.56; 6. Palmer, 1:57.49.

100 backstroke — 1. Pierce McDonough, Col, 58.20; 2. Reven Settle, Col, 1:00.07; 3. Mason Wallstrum, Col, 1:05.26; 4. Benjamin Merritt, Ken, 1:07.93; 5. Fletcher Darr, Ken, 1:09.29; 6. Talus McClain, Pal, 1:10.67.

100 breaststroke — 1. Isaiah Hulien, Col, 1:04.93; 2. David Price, Ken, 1:05.05; 3. Hudson Duguid, Col, 1:05.55; 4. Peyton Katzenberger, Ken, 1:10.69; 5. Everett Poulin, Ken, 1:14.34; 6. Patric Wilcox, Sol, 1:19.51.

400 freestyle relay — 1. Colony (LaBoucane, Settle, Smith, McDonough), 3:28.20; 2. Kenai, 3:44.11; 3. Colony, 3:54.05; 4. Soldotna, 4:13.79; 5. Kenai, 4:23.20; 6. Palmer, 4:48.45.

Kenai Central’s David Price competes in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Kenai Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central’s Isla Crouse competes in the 100-yard breaststroke at the Kenai Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer’s Avery Briscoe competes in the 400-yard freestyle relay at the Kenai Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central’s Abigail Price finishes the anchor leg in the 400-yard freestyle relay at the Kenai Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Kenai Central’s Lucy Anderson competes in the 100-yard backstroke at the Kenai Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)

Soldotna’s Dwight Brown competes in the 500-yard freestyle at the Kenai Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024, at Kenai Central High School in Kenai, Alaska. (Photo by Jeff Helminiak/Peninsula Clarion)