In the Wrangell High School swim team’s fourth meet of the year, the water-bound Wolves keep getting quicker.
The Sitka Invitational took place on Oct. 25-26 and served as a final regular season opportunity for swimmers to compete against Southeast rivals before this weekend’s regional championships in Petersburg.
Of the 24 individual events Wrangell swimmers competed in, they walked away with nine personal-best times. Even better, the Wolves’ relay team finished with season-best times in all four events they competed in.
Andrei Bardin-Siekawitch and Johanna Sanford both posted a trifecta of career-best times. Bardin-Siekawitch impressed in the 50-yard freestyle as well as in the 100-yard backstroke and breaststroke. Sanford set a personal best time of 31.38 in the 50-yard freestyle on Oct. 25, before jumping back in the pool the following day and cutting that time down to 31.05.
“This was a great weekend for Andrei and Johanna,” head coach Jamie Roberts said.
Maddy Davies swam her career best time in the 200-yard freestyle, shaving three seconds off her time from the first day of competition. Ellee Voltz was two-for-two when it came to personal-best times. She competed in both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle, setting set personal bests in both.
Davies, Sanford and Voltz also took place in the four relay events the team competed in. They were joined by senior captain Anika Herman to help the relay team set record times across the board.
“The girls have historically swum the 200-yard freestyle,” Roberts said. “This meet, they wanted to branch out and give the 400-yard freestyle a try.”
The decision paid off. Herman, Voltz, Davies and Sanford set a best time in not just the 400, but also in the 200-yard freestyle relay and 200-yard medley relay.
“The energy in the natatorium is always elevated during relays,” Roberts said. “I think they really shine when they are swimming in team events.”
The Southeast championships will be held in Petersburg on Friday and Saturday, Nov 1-2. If any Wrangell swimmers or relay teams qualify for the state championships, they will travel to Anchorage for the Nov. 8-9 meet.
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