Swim team competes in Petersburg

Wrangell's swim team travelled to Petersburg this past weekend for their second meet. This was their first meet this season where they travelled. The meet in Petersburg was held over two days, Oct. 9 and 10. Coach Jamie Roberts said that the first day of swimming was held virtually, but they travelled to Petersburg on Saturday. Petersburg wrote a six-page mitigation plan just for their one-hour meet, Roberts said, that she was impressed by.

They travelled to Petersburg via boat and met up with Wrangell's volleyball team for a bus ride into town. Every kid had their own seat, she said, and there were several rows between them and the volleyball team during the ride. During the swim meet, Wrangell and Petersburg swimmers each swam in their own designated lanes, Wrangell got their own locker room to change in, and whenever possible a lane was kept empty between swimmers in the pool.

"I have high standards for COVID mitigation and this was a well thought out plan," Roberts said.

Friday results:

Renee Roberts swam 25.94 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:06.89 in a 100-yard backstroke. Aaliyah Messmer swam 31.07 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:12.60 in a 100-yard freestyle. Ashleigh Loomis swam 33.27 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:14.31 in a 100-yard freestyle. Jack Roberts swam 25.84 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:15.33 in a 100-yard breaststroke. Jacob Allen swam 28.81 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:17.41 in a 100-yard backstroke. Tyson Messmer swam 27.93 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:06.27 in a 100-yard freestyle. Jimmy Baggen swam 25.84 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:16.58 in a 100-yard breaststroke. Bruce Smith swam 35.08 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:22.41 in a 100-yard freestyle. Nikolai Siekawitch swam 23.49 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:07.50 in a 100-yard breaststroke.

Jacob Allen, Jack Roberts, Jimmy Baggen, and Nikolai Siekawitch swam a combined 2:01.21 in a 200-yard medley relay. Tyson Messmer, Jimmy Baggen, Jack Roberts, and Nikolai Siekawitch swam a combined 1:46.31 in a 200-yard freestyle relay.

Saturday results:

Renee Roberts swam 25.83 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 56.66 in a 100-yard freestyle. Aaliyah Messmer swam 32.05 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 7:30.56 in a 500-yard freestyle. Ashleigh Loomis swam 32.97 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:13.89 in a 100-yard freestyle. Jack Roberts swam 25.42 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:14.57 in a 100-yard breaststroke. Jacob Allen swam 29.14 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:20.47 in a 100-yard backstroke. Tyson Messmer swam 28.28 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:06.18 in a 100-yard freestyle. Jimmy Baggen swam 25.79 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:15.89 in a 100-yard breaststroke. Bruce Smith swam 35.54 in a 50-yard freestyle, and 1:21.85 in a 100-yard freestyle. Nikolai Siekawitch swam 57.96 in a 100-yard butterfly, and 1:09.28 in a 100-yard breaststroke.

Jacob Allen, Jack Roberts, Jimmy Baggen, and Nikolai Siekawitch swam a combined 1:59.45 in a 200-yard medley relay. Tyson Messmer, Jimmy Baggen, Jack Roberts, and Nikolai Siekawitch swam a combined 1:45.07 in a 200-yard freestyle relay.

Roberts said that while she had times for her swimmers, she had not yet received final results from Petersburg to know how they placed in the competition.

"The Petersburg coach & myself both felt that both teams really pushed themselves since they had someone else to race besides their own teammates," Roberts wrote in a Facebook message. "The majority of the team improved on their times from the last meet. For a couple of the swimmers, Petersburg was their first swim meet they have ever participated in - that is always a special moment."