Swim team hits the water at Juneau meet

Wrangell's swim team finally made it to their first meet in Juneau on Sept. 20 and 21 after a late start to their season due to budget constraints. They competed against six other schools, according to meet results from Coach Jamie Roberts.

Friday results:

Renee Roberts took 1st place in the 50-yard freestyle and 2nd in the 100-yard freestyle with a personal best of 1:28.34. Paige Baggen took 2nd in the 500-yard freestyle with a personal best of 7:35.25, and 10th in the 100-yard breaststroke. Laura Helgeson took 15th in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best of 32.65 seconds, and 6th in the 100-yard breaststroke with a personal best of 1:28.12. Ashleigh Loomis took 18th in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best of 33.28 seconds, and 15th in the 100-yard freestyle with a personal best of 1:11.60. Tasha Massin took 25th in the 50-yard freestyle and 18th in the 100-yard freestyle with a personal best of 1:28.34. Aaliyah Messmer took 3rd in the 500-yard freestyle with a personal best of 7:58.86, and 1th in the 100-yard backstroke with a personal best of 1:33.26. Jimmy Baggen took 10th in the 50-yard freestyle and 3rd in the 100-yard breaststroke. Carter Hammer took 21st in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best of 34.80 seconds, and 14th in the 100-yard freestyle with a personal best of 1:28.35. Coby Holder took 19th in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best of 31.84 seconds, and 11th in the 100-yard freestyle with a personal best of 1:20.19. Wade Jack took 7th in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best of 25.31 seconds, and 4th in the 100-yard breaststroke with a personal best of 1:19.04. Sean Rooney took 9th in the 200-yard freestyle with a personal best of 2:43.39, and 9th in the 100-yard freestyle with a personal best of 1:09.08.

The girls' 200-yard medley relay team took 7th place at 2:17.99. The boys' 200-yard medley relay team took 6th place at 2:12.18. The boys' 200-yard freestyle relay team took 6th place at 1:59.36.

Saturday results:

Renee Roberts took 1st place in the 50-yard freestyle and in the 100-yard backstroke, with a personal best of 1:06.79. Aaliyah Messmer took 19th in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best of 31.77 seconds, and 14th in the 100-yard freestyle. Laura Helgeson took 16th in the 100-yard freestyle with a personal best of 1:15.36, and 14th in the 100-yard backstroke. Tasha Massin took 24th in the 50-yard freestyle at 38.88 seconds and 22nd in the 100-yard freestyle, with a personal best of 1:28.30. Paige Baggen took 19th in the 100-yard freestyle with a personal best of 1:20.59, and 12 in the 100-yard breaststroke. Ashleigh Loomis took 20th in the 50-yard freestyle and 13th in the 100-yard freestyle. Jimmy Baggen took 9th in the 200-yard freestyle and 10th in the 100-yard backstroke, with a personal best of 1:12.70. Wade Jack took 8th in the 50-yard freestyle and 6th in the 100-yard breaststroke, with a personal best of 1:17.45. Sean Rooney took 14th in the 50-yard freestyle with a personal best of 31.04 seconds, and 11th in the 200-yard freestyle with a personal best of 2:37.65. Carter Hammer took 19th in the 50-yard freestyle and 13th in the 100-yard backstroke. Coby Holder took 17th in the 50-yard freestyle.

The girls' 200-yard medley relay team took 8th place at 2:31.51. The girls' 200-yard freestyle relay team took 7th place at 2:21.37. The boys' 200-yard freestyle relay team took 7th place at 1:53.53.

"There were a lot of personal bests this weekend ... I was really proud because our returning swimmers were either swimming as close to their personal bests from last year or better, which for your first meet is really great," said Roberts.

The team will travel southward for the Ketchikan Invitational next weekend on Oct. 4 and 5. The team also has a rummage sale this Saturday to raise funds to cover travel expenses, located in the middle school commons, starting at 10 a.m.