Kachemak Swim Club (KSC) Kings took 23 swimmers to compete in Kenai’s Snowball Invitational on Jan. 9. 

Even though swimmers’ families found more ice than snow on the way to compete, they all showed and shaved seconds off of personal best times. Numerous swimmers swam personal bests and achieved new age group championship cuts and Alaska Junior Olympic championship cuts. 

Individual event winners included Madison Story, Carly Nelson, Luke Nelson, Skyler Rodriguez, Jamen Anderson, Kira Milne and Aria Hill. Two of KSC’s relay teams also notched a first-place finish. These teams consisted of the mixed eight and under 100 freestyle relay team that included Spencer Tressler, Alishia Nyvall, Inca Shannon and Shania Jones and also the mixed 10 and under 200 yard freestyle relay team that consisted of Carly Nelson, Luke Nelson, Nathan Overson and Luke Nollar. The following KSC swimmers swam in their first meet: Russell Nyvall, Alishia Nyvall, Shania Jones, Spencer Tressler and Inca Jones.

Anchor Point’s Angelica Haakensen returned to competition, her first since she was severely injured in a 2014 Christmas Day car accident. The inspiring motivation was palpable as the crowd of 300-plus erupted in cheers for her every race.

The Kings compete next at home on Jan. 22 and 23 at their annual End of the Road meet.

KSC is a non-profit, year round youth sports organization that practices in the Kate Kuhns Aquatic Center and competes around the peninsula, the state and the region. Anyone age 6 or older who can swim the width of the pool in freestyle and backstroke is encouraged to tryout. Visit the club’s website at www.kachemakswim.org for more information.