The Mariners’ dive team was on hiatus from official competition for yet another week while the swim team traveled to Seward, returning to Homer with confidence as Regions approach.

“The kids did well. The other teams at the meet were bigger so it could have been intimidating, but the kids didn’t let the bigger teams scare them,” said Head Swim Coach Rebecca Hardy.

With a few swimmers and divers down due to illness and accidents, the swimmers and divers are nursing their wounds to make sure they are ready in time for regional competition in three weeks.

Head Dive Coach Harmon Hall is preparing his crew for the 11-dives they will face at Regions. Hall will take two boys and two girls to Regions this year. One of the boys, freshman Ben Westfall, has not competed all season due to wrist recovery.

Hall and Hardy’s young teams are coming along and making strides in practices, the coaches say. The teams they have now will only improve as the years continue.

“We have a strong team of underclassmen divers that are coming up for years to come,” said Hall.

This weekend both teams will compete at the Palmer Invite, one of the bigger meets of the season, comprised of three days of competition. After Palmer, the teams get a break for recovery and training before Regions which will be held at Homer High School on Nov. 2 and 3.