Members of the Wrangell Swim Club chill out before hitting the pool in Juneau December 2. From left to right are Jack Roberts, William Massin, Hope Mikkelsen, Lindee McIntyre, coach Bruce McQueen, Renee Roberts, Elizabeth McIntyre, Sophie O'Brien, Mercy Mikkelsen, and assistant coach Jamie Roberts.
In the team's first regional meet since starting up this year, members of the Wrangell Swimming Club took some top spots and beat personal records earlier this month.
The team fielded seven swimmers, who joined 182 others on six teams during the 2016 Savannah Cayce Southeast Championship at Juneau's Dimond Park Aquatic Center from December 2-4.
"There were a lot of swimmers there, and a lot of good swimmers," said assistant coach Jamie Roberts. "It went really well. The kids did really well," she said of the meet.
Jack Roberts took first place in six events in the boys 10-and-under category, and was named the bracket's individual point winner. Points are awarded for swimmers placing in the top eight spots for their age group, with higher placements earning greater points. Roberts also finished with five personal best times in the meet.
In the 11-12 year age group, Renee Roberts placed in six events, with a first, second, third and fourth placement in butterfly and freestyle competitions. She also finished with three personal bests in the meet.
William Massin took third place times in four events for boys aged eight and under, including the 25 yard backstroke. Two of his times were personal bests.
Mercy Mikkelsen took third in the girls 13-14 group's 200 yard breaststroke, and placed in six other events. She finished four of them with personal bests.
Other swimmers on the team finished with personal best times for the events they competed in, with Hope Mikkelsen making seven in the 11-12 year group; Sophie O'Brien six in the 11-12; and Elizabeth McIntyre three of the three she placed in for the 11-12.
Additionally, four of the team's swimmers made times which meet the requirement to attend the Alaska Age Group Championship meet in Fairbanks next February.
Coach Roberts explained the team has already exceeded its goals since starting the season with a meet in Petersburg last month. It was Wrangell's first competitive swim club in 14 years, the previous being the Stikine Sea Runners.
Starting in steps, the team at first intended only to compete at events in neighboring Petersburg and at an open meet in Ketchikan scheduled for the end of March. The opportunity to compete in Juneau came as a pleasant surprise, and half of Wrangell's team's swimmers were able to make the journey.
As some swimmers have qualified for the Fairbanks meet and for the Alaska Junior Olympics in April, Roberts explained the team's parents will be deciding whether they can afford to make the meets this next year, or if they should shoot for participating the following year.
"We're deciding right now," she said.
The team is still working on filing for its 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, which should help with future fundraising efforts. Roberts said it is still planning to get to Ketchikan's Spring Splash.
"We're going to be taking as many kids as we can," she promised.
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