Swimming coaches from both Chugiak and Eagle River high schools are pleased with a distribution of resources, with Eagle River now practicing at Bartlett High School.
While the two teams had practiced in the same pool, often at the same time, the split was announced at the beginning of the season Aug. 6. Individual meets begin Friday.
The Eagle River squad is coached by Anne Williams, who was Chugiak High's head coach three years ago.
Williams said she is delighted to be practicing at Bartlett daily. “There are 16 lanes. There's a lot of room. I think it gives this team the chance to grow,” she said Sunday.
Already the team has 22 athletes on the roster — nearly half again larger than last year's team. Williams said Bartlett has a smaller squad, not yet numbering in double digits.
“It's exciting. We already have a lot of kids in the water — it's going to be a great year,” she said.
Top returnees include Maggie Hepler and Jessica Shoemaker on the girls side, along with Greg Hall and Steven Bender on the boys. The Wolves also return one of the best girl divers in the Cook Inlet Conference in junior Katie Sanders.
Williams said she is very pleased with the even blend of boys to girls.
“Usually high school swim teams are boy deficient. If we get another one or two boys, we could actually have three relay teams,” said Williams.
While Chugiak High has been without first-year head coach Paige von Hofen for more than a week, team mom Michele Caldwell has been assisting with the ranks that currently number 32.
The Mustangs have 18 girls on the roster including top returnees Brogan Beyette and Ava Williams. Top guys returning are Jacob Hakala and Gentry Ensign.
Ensign and Beyette are the squad's senior captains, reported Caldwell.
New to the team, but not to the sport, is freshman Jordyn Caldwell, whose club times already place her among the top swimmers in the conference in several events.
Assisting von Hofen is Robbie Dolan, a former Bartlett High swim team member now attending the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Chugiak opens their competitive season at East High School Friday, while Eagle River competes against Bartlett in the shared pool. The meets begin at 4 p.m.
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