Kenai Central’s Abigail Price breaks 2 school records, wins 1 event at region meet

Kenai Central’s Ra’ah Roady, Abigail Price, Sierra Hershberger and Isla Crouse qualified for state in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays at the Region III Swim and Dive Championships at Kodiak High School on Nov. 1 and 2, 2024. (Photo provided)

Kenai Central’s Ra’ah Roady, Abigail Price, Sierra Hershberger and Isla Crouse qualified for state in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays at the Region III Swim and Dive Championships at Kodiak High School on Nov. 1 and 2, 2024. (Photo provided)

Kenai Central junior Abigail Price led the Kenai Peninsula at the Region III Swim and Dive Championships on Friday and Saturday at Kodiak High School by winning one event and setting two new school records.

Price won the 100-yard butterfly in 59.47 seconds to set a new school record. Palmer’s Kylie Benner finished second at 59.84.

The two also dueled in the 200 freestyle, with Benner winning in 1:57.23, but Price finishing second at 1:57.27 to set a new school record.

Colony swept the team titles.

The Knights boys were dominant, scoring 143 points. Kenai was second at 55, Soldotna was sixth at 23, Homer was seventh at 6 and Seward was eighth at 2.

The Colony girls scored 100 points, with Kodiak second at 67. Kenai was fourth at 49, Homer was fifth at 19, Soldotna was sixth at 12 and Seward was eighth at 7.

The female swimmer of the year was Kodiak’s Amaya Rocheleau, who set a new region record in the 100-yard backstroke.

The male swimmer of the year was Iver Gates of Colony, who helped the Knights set a new region record in the 200 medley relay.

Kodiak’s Maggie Rocheleau was the coach of the year.

Including Price, the Kardinals had 10 swimmers qualify for the state meet, which will be held Friday and Saturday, Nov. 8 and 9, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.

Once relay alternates are included, 14 Kardinals will make the trip to state.

The swim and dive preliminaries start at 10:30 a.m. Friday. There are more diving prelims at 9 a.m. Saturday, then the swimming and diving finals start at 1 p.m.

In the 100 butterfly, Price will go in seeded second, with her 59.47 trailing the 57.45 of Eagle River’s Reese Woodward.

In the 200 freestyle, Price is seeded fourth, but is just .04 seconds behind No. 2 seed Benner.

Price also will compete in the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay, joined by Sierra Hershberger, Isla Crouse and Ra’ah Roady.

That group was second at the region meet in the 200 freestyle relay and third in the 400 freestyle relay.

Hershberger also qualified for state in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Crouse also qualified in the 200 IM.

Also for the Kenai girls, Emma Castimore will swim at state in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.

The Kardinals boys had five individuals qualify, led by David Price earning tickets in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, where he finished second at regions.

Fletcher Darr will swim the 100 breaststroke, Peyton Katzenberger will swim the 200 freestyle, Lyman McBride will swim the 100 backstroke and Benjamin Merritt will swim the 100 butterfly.

Jacob Merritt, Benjamin Merritt, Price and Jason Johnson were second in the 200 medley relay at regions, but the time did not qualify for state.

Homer’s Cassidy Carroll qualified to swim the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke at state.

Seward qualified Oliver Trobaugh and Aubrey Wilder to state. Trobaugh will swim the 100 butterfly, while Wilder will swim the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle.

Soldotna qualified Zoe Burns and Michael Davidson to state. Burns will swim the 500 freestyle, while Davidson will compete in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke.

State qualifiers by school (includes relay alternates)

Homer — Cassidy Carroll, 100-yard freestyle, 100 backstroke.

Kenai Central — Lucy Anderson, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay; Emma Castimore, 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay; Isla Crouse, 200 individual medley, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay; Fletcher Darr, 100 breaststroke; Michelle Duffield, 200 freestyle relay; Sierra Hershberger, 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay; Peyton Katzenberger, 200 freestyle; Lyman McBride, 100 backstroke; Audrey McDonald, 400 freestyle relay; Benjamin Merritt, 100 butterfly; Meriedi Morrison, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay; Abigail Price, 200 freestyle, 100 butterfly, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay; David Price, 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke; Ra’ah Roady, 200 freestyle relay, 400 freestyle relay.

Seward — Oliver Trobaugh, 100 butterfly; Aubrey Wilder, 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle.

Soldotna — Zoe Burns, 500 freestyle; Michael Davidson, 200 individual medley, 100 backstroke.

Region III swimming and diving meet

Friday, Saturday at Kodiak High School

GIRLS

Team scores: 1. Colony, 100; 2. Kodiak, 67; 3. Palmer, 62; 4. Kenai Central, 49; 5. Homer, 19; 6. Soldotna, 12; 7. Unalaska, 11; 8. Seward, 7; 9. Wasilla, 2.

200-yard medley relay — 1. Kodiak (Rocheleau, Jones, Neo, Hagen), 1:51.38; 2. Palmer, 1:57.54; 3. Colony, 2:02.57; 4. Homer, 2:05.44; 5. Unalaska, 2:19.63; 6. Wasilla, 2:33.43.

200 freestyle — 1. Kylie Benner, Pal, 1:57.23; 2. Abigail Price, Ken, 1:57.27; 3. Emma Castimore, 2:06.77; 4. Aubrey Wilder, Sew, 2:07.62; 5. Kendyl Ligman, Col, 2:09.35; 6. Mollyann Dunlap, Pal, 2:15.39.

200 individual medley — 1. Hannah Cooper, Col, 2:14.82; 2. Emily Neo, Kod, 2:25.73; 3. Isla Crouse, Ken, 2:26.81; 4. Aubrey Stocker, Pal, 2:34.46; 5. Meili Smith, Col, 2:38.52.

50 freestyle — 1. Amaya Rocheleau, Kod, 24.27; 2. Morgan Hagen, Kod, 25.51; 3. Jerzey Lane, Col, 25.76; 4. Sierra Hershberger, Ken, 25.94; 5. Chloe Blackburn, Col, 26.48; 6. Nina Adams, Pal, 26.76.

Diving — 1. Charlize McManus, Col, 412.90; 2. Claire Wallstrum, Col, 392.70; 3. Samantha Grisham, Col, 371.30; 4. Lyza Krozel, Col, 352.30; 5. Molly Althens, Pal, 279.70; 6. Dannica Sharratt, Kod, 259.65.

100 butterfly — 1. Abigail Price, Ken, 59.47; 2. Kylie Benner, Pal, 59.84; 3. Katie Dollick, Col, 1:03.71; 4. Emily Neo, Kod, 1:04.35; 5. Jerzey Lane, Col, 1:06.27; 6. Aubrey Bunch, Col, 1:10.06.

100 freestyle — 1. Chloe Blackburn, Col, 57.32; 2. Morgan Hagen, Kod, 57.42; 3. Aubrey Wilder, Sew, 58.25; 4. Sierra Hershberger, Ken, 58.56; 5. Cassidy Carroll, Hom, 58.79; 6. Lia Jones, Kod, 58.85.

500 freestyle — 1. Hannah Cooper, Col, 5:20.32; 2. Jade Bamford, Pal, 5:43.79; 3. Katie Dollick, Col, 5:44.34; 4. Zoe Burns, Sol, 5:44.37; 5. Emma Castimore, Ken, 5:49.49; 6. Mollyann Dunlap, Pal, 6:03.77.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Colony (Blackburn, Cooper, Dollick, Lane), 1:43.83; 2. Kenai, 1:45.89; 3. Palmer, 1:46.64; 4. Soldotna, 1:57.29; 5. Homer, 1:58.70; 6. Unalaska, 2:05.54.

100 backstroke — 1. Amaya Rocheleau, Kod, 57.71; 2. Meili Smith, Col, 1:05.19; 3. Jade Bamford, Pal, 1:05.27; 4. Cassidy Carroll, Hom, 1:05.72; 5. Aubrey Stocker, Pal, 1:06.37; 6. Zoe Burns, Sol, 1:08.89.

100 breaststroke — 1. Nina Adams, Pal, 1:10.96; 2. Adyson Scott, Una, 1:12.69; 3. Lia Jones, Kod, 1:14.01; 4. Isla Crouse, Ken, 1:16.94; 5. Maraya Dunford, Col, 1:18.02; 6. Ellie Jones, Kod, 1:23.16.

400 freestyle relay — 1. Kodiak (Hagen, Neo, Jones, Rocheleau); 2. Colony, 3:49.14; 3. Kenai, 3:51.84; 4. Palmer, 4:14.64; 5. Homer, 4:18.13; 6. Soldotna, 4:30.83.

BOYS

Team scores: 1. Colony, 143; 2. Kenai, 55; 3. Kodiak, 41; 4 (tie). Wasilla, Palmer 25; 6. Soldotna, 23; 7. Homer, 6; 8. Seward, 2.

200 medley relay — 1. Colony (McDonough, Duguid, Hulien, Gates), 1:37.56; 2. Kenai, 1:48.19; 3. Palmer, 1:51.66; 4. Wasilla, 1:59.69; 5. Kodiak, 1:59.79; 6. Homer, 2:10.97.

200 freestyle — 1. Cody Hubert, Kod, 1:47.31; 2. Kellan DenBleyker, Col, 1:49.44; 3. Pierce McDonough, Col, 1:51.05; 4. Michael Branham, Was, 1:57.39; 5. Peyton Katzenberger, Ken, 1:57.57; 6. Johnathan White, Sol, 2:04.45.

200 IM — 1. Reven Settle, Col, 2:03.89; 2. Beck LaBoucane, Col, 2:06.99; 3. Michael Davidson, Sol, 2:08.31; 4. David Price, Ken, 2:11.02; 5. Mason Wallstrum, Col, 2:19.01; 6. Oliver Trobaugh, Sew, 2:23.78.

50 freestyle — 1. Iver Gates, Col, 22.05; 2. Thomas Smith, Col, 22.38; 3. Jackson Charton, Pal, 22.53; 4. Hudson Duguid, Col, 23.63; 5. Jason Johnson, Ken, 23.98; 6. Jacob Merritt, Ken, 25.01.

Diving — 1. Travis Thornton, Was, 502.90; 2. Colter Gose, Was, 332.80.

100 butterfly — 1. Isaiah Hulien, Col, 51.06; 2. Thomas Smith, Col, 54.01; 3. Jackson Charton, Pal, 55.01; 4. Landeyn Halstead, Col, 55.90; 5. Benjamin Merritt, Ken, 56.66; 6. Oliver Trobaugh, Sew, 58.49.

100 freestyle — 1. Iver Gates, Col, 48.21; 2. Kellan DenBleyker, Col, 49.19; 3. Beck LaBoucane, Col, 50.17; 4. Marek Wyszkowski, Kod, 51.99; 5. Lyman McBride, Ken, 54.88; 6. Rhone Leach, Col, 55.13.

500 freestyle — 1. Cody Hubert, Kod, 4:49.32; 2. Isaiah Hulien, Col, 4:56.04; 3. Benjamin Merritt, Ken, 5:32.44; 4. Dwight Brown, Sol, 5:37.78; 5. Finn Norstrom, Col, 5:41.05; 6. Johnathan White, Sol, 5:42.08.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Colony (DenBleyker, Smith, Gates, Hulien), 1:29.33; 2. Kodiak, 1:36.21; 3. Kenai, 1:37.78; 4. Palmer, 1:38.56; 5. Soldotna, 1:43.62; 6. Homer, 1:56.30.

100 backstroke — 1. Pierce McDonough, Col, 53.43; 2. Reven Settle, Col, 56.80; 3. Michael Davidson, Sol, 57.48; 4. Landeyn Halstead, Col, 1:00.12; 5. Mason Wallstrum, Col, 1:03.28; 6. Jacob Merritt, Ken, 1:05.94.

100 breaststroke — 1. Hudson Duguid, Col, 1:02.91; 2. David Price, Ken, 1:04.10; 3. Fletcher Darr, Ken, 1:06.88; 4. Peyton Katzenberger, Ken, 1:09.44; 5. Jody Goodrich, Hom, 1:10.01; 6. Peyton Neumann, Pal, 1:11.69.

400 freestyle relay — 1. Colony, 3:18.82; 2. Kodiak, 3:33.70; 3. Kenai, 3:34.22; 4. Soldotna, 3:47.60; 5. Wasilla, 3:48.37; 6. Palmer, 4:14.81.

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