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History may be about to repeat itself.

Last season at the Region III swimming and diving championships, the Kodiak girls won 11 of 12 events to cruise to their second straight girls title, while the Wasilla boys kept the Kodiak boys from winning their fifth title in six years by edging out the Bears in the final event.

Soldotna coach Sohail Marey sees a similar meet today and Saturday at Skyview High School. The diving portion of the meet started Thursday at Soldotna.

"On the girls side, it is definitely Kodiak," Marey said. "On the boys side, again, it's going to be Kodiak, Wasilla and us. It's really close."

The Valley Invitational was held two weeks ago and is generally a good indicator of region supremacy. The Kodiak girls won that meet with 122 points, while Soldotna was second at 49 and Homer was third at 38.

"For our girls, one goal was to try and win regions, but we have to be realistic," Marey said. "Kodiak has too much depth."

The Kodiak boys won the Valley Invitational with 69 points, but Wasilla had 57 and Soldotna scored 54. Jeff Frey and Christian Long, who each won two individual events for the defending champion Warriors, are back to lead the title defense this year.

"What it comes down to is, 'What team is going to take the most points from another team?'" Marey said.

Kenai Central coach Jim Barkman agrees that the Kodiak girls should cruise, while the boys title race will be between the Bears, Stars and Warriors.

"Wasilla has some sprinters, and high school swimming favors sprinters," Barkman said. "All three relays are sprint relays. Wasilla might have an edge."

The only peninsula athlete to win an event at last year's region meet was Soldotna's Winter Heaven, now a junior.

Heaven has been battling a sickness the last three weeks, but Marey said he is still a solid bet to win the 100-yard butterfly and 100 backstroke.

SoHi's Christian Carrico missed state last year in the 100 breaststroke by less than a second, but he is four seconds faster in that event this year. He also should score points in the 200 individual medley.

Marey said Cody Tate and Austin Whitaker should score points and possibly make state in diving. Whitaker also swims on the relays.

According to Marey, Sawyer Rickman, Ehren Rickman, Mark Youngren and Joseph Rife also will help the title effort by scoring points in individual events or relays.

While the SoHi girls will have a tough time making one of their goals, the second one is more manageable.

"Our second goal was to qualify as many swimmers for state as possible," Marey said.

The coach said Olivia Bowen should make state in the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley. Randi Freestone and Michaela Shirnberg should make state in the 100 breaststroke, while Freestone has a shot in the 100 freestyle and Shirnberg could go in the 100 butterfly.

Marey also said Alena Newgren has a chance in the 500 freestyle, and that the girls team also should send two relays to state.

Divers Erica Byerley and Jessica Jackson also could join the state team.

The Stars also could get valuable points from swimmers Sarah Rife, Angela Ramponi and Sara Mokracek.

Last season, Kenai sent swimmers Olivia Pfeifer, Dylan Wannamaker and Anders Nyquist to state. Barkman would like that trio to have some company this year.

"I'd love for some relays to go, because that means we take more kids," Barkman said. "I think that we have a couple that should go, depending on how the other teams enter their swimmers."

Barkman would love to see his swimmers get close to 100 percent best times. He said a normal rate of success is 60 percent, but he believes his squad's tremendous work ethic will pay off.

"This team has been great to work with," he said. "They've made my job real easy."

Skyview's top bet to make state is Ryan McMaster. McMaster missed state last year, but has made that a goal this year. Last week, he won the 100 freestyle and the Homer Peninsula Swim Meet.

Seward's top gun at the meet will be Ryan O'Leary, who qualified for state in a pair of events last year. O'Leary was the only boys swimmer to win two individual events at last weekend's Homer meet, taking the 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle.

For Homer, Marie Schmidt and Katherine Spence each took a pair of individual events at the Homer meet. Schmidt qualified for state in individual events and relays last year, while Spence went in relays.

Also winning events for Homer at the meet were Dana Olesch, James Reid, Alder Fletcher and Donna McNulty.

McNulty qualified in individual events and relays last year, while Olesch went in relays.

Richard Ginter, Garrett Hall and Lindsey Seneff also will attempt to return to state in individual events for the Mariners.

Diving preliminaries

Thursday at Soldotna High School

Semifinals, finals are today at Soldotna

Girls: 1. Rachel Kennedy, Was, 165.50; 2. Mariah Schachle, Was, 156.70; 3. Lindsey Seneff, Hom, 125.70; 4. Sophie Hogen, Kod, 119.75; 5. Erica Byerley, Sol, 105.50; 6. Hillary Graham, Was, 99.20; 7. Jessica Jackson, Sol, 76.55; 8. Ashley Eby, Sol, 72.15; 9. Katie Clonan, Sky, 71.30.

Boys: 1. Scott Wandersee, Kod, 213.10; 2. Alexander Deedy, Col, 174.15; 3. Cody Tate, Sol, 173.85; 4. Elrik Hanson, Kod, 154.65; 5. Garrett Hall, Hom, 135.55; 6. Davey Baird, Hom, 134.10; 7. Connor Eshleman, Col, 127.50; 8. Austin Whitaker, Sol, 122.40; 9. Tyler Fishback, Was, 121.65; 10. Sawyer Rickman, Sol, 110.20; 11. Luke Rohl, Sol, 89.10.