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Juneau-Douglas swimmers and divers are state bound
Updated: 22 minutes ago
Crimson Bears seeking championship at Anchorage’s Bartlett High School pool
By Klas Stolpe
Juneau Independent
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Crimson Bears are traveling to the state championships at Anchorage’s Bartlett High School pool Friday and Saturday with a solid chance of bringing home fast times, fun times and state titles in their final high school meet of the season.
“At this point in the season, the work has been put in,” JDHS coach Amber Kelly said. “We are not trying to build anything new in these final days. We are focusing on refining the little things that can make a big difference in a race, like starts, turns, finishes, and maintaining good technique. We are continuing to taper, reducing the overall workload while keeping the intensity and speed in the water. We want their bodies to recover from the demands of the season without losing that sharpness they have worked so hard to develop.”
The JDHS contingent includes senior two-time defending state champion Amy Liddle and senior Kennedy Miller, who was a part of the 2024 and 2025 state-winning girls' 200-yard medley relay, as well as Liam Kiessling, a junior and twice a top state-ranked backstroke swimmer.
“This season has been long and difficult, but my coaches and teammates have helped me the whole way through it,” Kiessling said. “I am sure I would not have been able to get through it without their support. Finally ending the season with my friends and family on a trip to state is what I look forward to the whole season. State is not all about swimming but also the experience of traveling to a different city to have fun exploring and conversing. I love this team and though the seniors will be sorely missed next year, I know that season will have new enjoyable experiences that I will cherish.”
The JDHS girls set the state championship 200-yard medley relay record last season in 1:46.03 and return Miller and Liddle. Their Region V winning four relay members last weekend were sophomore Katya Foy (back), Miller (breast), Liddle (fly) and senior Kaelyn Szefler (free) in 1:52.65. They are ranked third for state.
"Going into this season, I knew my team and I had big goals for ourselves, but seeing how much work we have put into them has really made this season meaningful,” Foy said. “As we reach our goals and the end of our season I realize we could not have done it without our wonderful coaching. I also could not have done it without my team, their support and encouragement pushed me to where I am now and where I am going next. I am so incredibly grateful to end this season with state and I hope I can continue to show my hard work this weekend and further on."
Top-seeded individual Region V female swimmers include Liddle (100 fly), Foy (100 free) and Sitka senior Taryn Fleming (100 back).
Top-seeded individual Region V male swimmers include JDHS’ Kiessling (100 fly) and Petersburg freshman Cyrus Hulebak (200 IM).
“Mental relaxation is a huge focus for us right now,” JDHS assistant coach Mesa Moran said. “For the coaches, our confidence really grows as the season progresses because we see all the work swimmers put in at practices and meets. I think for them, sometimes it is the opposite. We really push the kids from the moment season starts to right before it ends. It can feel overwhelming to have such intense practices and not see results right away. These past couple of practices we have been focusing on checking in with the swimmers to see where their head space is at, and just really creating a positive environment for them so they have the self-confidence we have in them.”
Added coach Kelly, “State is a big stage, and we want our athletes going into it feeling confident, excited, and trusting the work they have put in. At this point, it is about staying relaxed, racing their own races, and enjoying the opportunity they have earned.”
Relays are key as they are scored double points and kick start the meet with the 200-yard medley relay, bring a team into contention midway through the meet with the 200-yard freestyle relay and decide the team placings as the pool deck seethes with excitement in the final swim of the evening, the 400-yard free relay. Relays can even give a town prestige by putting four members on the top block of the podium even if they do not field enough swimmers to contend for the overall team title.
Eagle River won the girls' team title last year with just one relay win, the 200 FR, but they had five individual titles and one of the swimmers responsible — Lelaina Trembath — returns. JDHS was runner-up for the team title last season winning the 200 MR and 400 FR and had three individual titles, but those lone winners do not return.
West Valley won the boys team title with 69 points and just one relay win and no individual titles, Colony was second and Ketchikan third, each with one individual title. Sitka was fourth with 59 points and JDHS sixth with 55 points and no individual title. Chugiak had two individual titles, and that swimmer does not return, but placed eighth in the team scoring.
JDHS has the fastest boys 200 MR in the state this season with 1:38.53, a Region V record set by Kiessling (back), senior Josh Edwards (breast), sophomore Levi Phelps (fly) and senior Kaden Aldrich (free) last weekend. They are seeded first at state. The Sitka boys set the only other new Region V record last weekend, the 200 FR of junior Tommy McCarthy, sophomore Cedar Powers, freshman Ben Lihou and senior Corin Colliver in 1:28.95. They are seeded first at state.
While relay team scoring is important, equally so are the top individuals and the strong finishes two-through-eight if teams want to overpower other lanes. Teams are still tapering to hit their best times.
“We have been continuing our taper this week by reducing practices another 15 minutes,” JDHS assistant coach Dakota Hubert said. “Adding more sleep to their schedule. They are also done with weight training for the season. Our one hour in the pool is focused on all the small details. Lots of sprinting, fast breakouts, turns, and finishes. My favorite reminder for our team is to eat ‘alllll’ the carbohydrates this week.”
JDHS has 38 entries, including six relays, among their girls and boys teams, while Eagle River has 35 entries and six relays, Kenai 29 entries and five relays, Sitka 22 entries and five relays, Colony 22 entries and four relays, Service 19 entries and two relays, West Valley 17 entries and six relays, and Chugiak 13 entries with three relays among the 21 schools competing. But schools like Petersburg, with just 11 entries and one relay, Palmer with 10 entries and three relays or Dimond with 11 entries and four relays, or even Wasilla’s three entries or Unalaska’s one entry can muck up the top team placings by winning or landing on the podium.
“This season has been a culmination of my time and effort from the past three years,” JDHS senior Maddox Rasmussen said. “The hours I have spent in both the pool and with my team. I am sad that this is my last season with the people that have meant so much to me, but I am hoping to end my senior season with a bang at state.”
Relay state qualifying rankings from JDHS include the boys medley relay of Kiessling, Edwards, Phelps and Aldrich (1st); boys 200 free relay of Aldrich, Edwards, senior Sam Pallenberg and Phelps (1st); girls 400 free relay of Liddle, sophomore Annabelle Woodruff, Szefler and Foy (1st); girls 200 free relay of Woodruff, Miller, sophomore Brook Taintor and sophomore Maddie Manlulu (2nd); girls medley relay of Foy, Miller, Liddle and Szefler (3rd); and the boys 400 free relay of Kiessling, Phelps, sophomore Keagen Andrews and Pallenberg (6th).
Individual JDHS state qualifying rankings include Liddle (1st, 100 fly, 3rd 200 IM), Kiessling (1st 100 fly, 4th 100 back), Foy (1st 100 free, 3rd 100 back), Edwards (2nd 100 fly, 4th 100 breast), Aldrich (2nd 200 free, 9th 100 breast), senior Bailey Fisher (3rd 100 free, 4th 50 free), sophomore Cora Soboleff (3rd 200 free, 5th 500 free), Miller (4th 100 breast, 11th 100 fly), senior Avery Smith (5th 200 IM, 10th 100 fly), senior Riley Soboleff (6th 100 breast, 14th 200 IM), Szefler (7th 100 free, 10th 100 back), senior Maddox Rasmussen (8th 200 free, 10th 500 frees), Woodruff (8th 100 fly, 16th 200 free), Pallenberg (9th 100 back, 15th 50 free), Manlulu (12th 100 free, 12th 100 breast), Phelps (13th 100 back), sophomore Henry Thatcher (15th 500 free) and senior Chedi Giron (16th 500 free).
"I am very excited for this year's state championships," JDHS' Cora Soboleff said. "We have some amazing swimmers this year and lots of fun moments will be created as a team. Another factor of stat is getting to compete against teams you haven't seen all season and close friends from all across the state."
Liddle's Region V title wins last week in the 200-yard individual medley (2:16.57), 100 fly (59.09), 200 MR (1:52.65) and 400 FR (3:45.75) earned her Athlete of the Week honors from the Alaska Sports Report.
The JDHS divers are also ranked high, with senior Easton Berger ranked second for state competition.
“Before I dive I tell myself ‘you have done it before, you have done it good, you can do it again, but even better,’” Berger said.
Senior Brady Newport is ranked third at state in this, his first season on the board.
“I decided to join the dive team on a whim, and after showing up to a few practices, I found that I really enjoyed diving,” Newport said. “From there, I just continued to improve at a rapid pace, which led me to getting second at regions. I wish the season was longer so that I could have more time to perfect my twisters and gain more confidence in my back one and one half somersault, and unlock even more difficult dives, such as my forward one and one half full twist and my front two and one half somersault. But overall, I am really proud of the progress I have made and I am nervous but also excited to compete at state this weekend.”
Senior Moira Bahn is ranked seventh.
“I really enjoyed competing at regions with everybody,” Bahn said. “I think we all had a lot of fun, and I am excited to get to compete with everyone one more time at States.”
Senior Alex Davis is ranked seventh, freshman Travis Mateo 12th and senior Adeline Williams 16th.
“All season, the divers have focused on making small improvements at every practice,” JDHS dive coach Savona Kiessling said. “Every week, these tiny adjustments have built upon themselves, resulting in dives with solid height, precise form, and improved control. It is so rewarding to look back at where they were at the start of their dive careers and look at where they are today as a team. This dive team is composed of mostly seniors, which is exciting but also very bittersweet. They are well prepared and excited to bring their dives to state this Friday and Saturday, and it has been a privilege to be their coach.”
The 2026 ASAA/First National Bank Alaska Swim & Dive State Championships begin at 9 a.m. Friday with preliminary races and continue at 9 a.m. Saturday with finals at 1 p.m. All events are at Anchorage’s Bartlett High School pool.
2026 Top Three State Swim/Dive Qualifying Times and SE Qualifiers:
200 Medley Relay
Girls - 1) Eagle River - Audrey Townley, Lelaina Trembath, Anna Heaphy, Khalyse Rollins - 1:51.29; 2) Service 1:52.08; 3) Juneau - Foy, Miller, Liddle, Szefler - 1:52.65; 5) Sitka - Olivia Jarvill, Eve Rice, Fleming, Aela McCarthy 1:56.25; 6) Petersburg - Bella Miller, Lexie Tow, Tori Miller, Olivia Hinde - 1:57.50.
Boys - 1) Juneau - Kiessling, Edwards, Phelps, Aldrich - 1:38.53; 2) Eagle River - Matthew Baker, CJ Rollins, Noah Unks, Andrew Deisseroth - 1:39.29; 3) Kenai 1:39.83; 4) Sitka - Elliott Galanin, Zach Martens, McCarthy, Colliver - 1:40.19.
200 Yard Freestyle
Girls - 1) Lelaina Trembath (sr, Eagle River) 1:54.71; 2) Lexie Tow (jr, Petersburg) 2:00.66; 3) Emma Castimore (jr, Kenai) 2:01.20; 4) Cora Soboleff (so, JDHS) 2:03.00; 8) Maddox Rasmussen (sr, JDHS) 2:06.02; 12) Bella Miller (jr, Petersburg) 2:06.61; 16) Annabelle Woodruff (so, JDHS) 2:08.63; - Alternate 17) Kendyl Lachapelle (fr, Petersburg).
Boys - 1) Nate Shockley (sr, Eagle River) 1:45.41; 2) Kaden Aldrich (sr, JDHS) 1:45.62; 3) Colin Russian (so, Eagle River) 1:47.55; 5) Ben Lihou (fr, Sitka) 1:49.27; 9) Sawyer Bastian (fr, Sitka) 1:51.39.
200 Yard Individual Medley
Girls - 1) Anna Heaphy (so, Eagle River) 2:12.84; 2) Anna Brooks (sr, Service) 2:13.25; 3) Amy Liddle (sr, JDHS) 2:16.57; 5) Avery Smith (sr, JDHS) 2:22.27; 9) Olivia Jarvill (fr, Sitka) 2:26.53; 14) Riley Soboleff (sr, JDHS) 2:32.91.
Boys - 1) Cyrus Hulebak (fr, Petersburg) 1:59.60; 2) Zach Martens (sr, Sitka) 2:01.06; 3) Noah Unks (so, Eagle River) 2:02.61; 11) Hakon Eddy (fr, Petersburg) 2:14.35; - Alt Axel Boily (jr, JDHS) 2:18.08.
50 Yard Freestyle
Girls - 1) Jersey Lane (jr, Colony) 24.76; 2) Khalyse Rollins (fr, Eagle River) 25.37; 3) Tori Miller (fr, Petersburg) 25.46; 4) Bailey Fisher (sr, JDHS) 25.52; 5) Aela McCarthy (fr, Sitka) 25.58.
Boys - 1) Beck LaBoucane (jr, Colony) 21.18; 2) Matthew Baker (sr, Eagle River) 21.51; 3) Griffin Pencil (jr, South Anchorage) 21.62; 5) Corin Colliver (sr, Sitka) 22.23; 8) Cedar Powers (so, Sitka) 22.77; 15) Sam Pallenberg (sr, JDHS) 23.50; Alt - James Nellis (sr, Sitka) 23.52.
1 Meter Diving
Girls - 1) Clarie Wallstrum (sr, Colony) 442.60; 2) Lexie Bond (sr, Service) 369.25; 3) Lyza Krozel (sr, Colony) 368.50; 7) Moira Bahn (sr, JDHS) 302.25; 10) Lina Merrill (sr, Ketchikan) 256.40; 12) Ella Colliver (fr, Sitka) 249.55; 13) Ellie Johnson (jr, Ketchikan) 248.95; 16) Adeline Williams (sr, JDHS) 228.45.
Boys - 1) Colter Gose (sr, Wasilla) 390.60; 2) Easton Berger (sr, JDHS) 355.45; 3) Brady Newport (sr, JDHS) 303.95; 4) Marshall Kufner (so, Ketchikan) 297.05; 7) Alex Davis (sr, JDHS) 269.30; 9) Jett Miller (so, Ketchikan) 251.25; 12) Traeus Mateo (fr, JDHS) 217.50.
100 Yard Butterfly
Girls - 1) Amy Liddle (sr, JDHS) 59.09; 2) Taryn Fleming (sr, Sitka) 59.65; 3) Anna Heaphy (so, Eagle River) 59.66; 5) Tori Miller (fr, Petersburg) 1:00.22; 8) Annabelle Woodruff (so, JDHS) 1:01.39; 10) Avery Smith (sr, JDHS) 1:03.27; 11) Kennedy Miller (sr, JDHS) 1:03.68.
Boys - 1) Liam Kiessling (jr, JDHS) 51.11; 2) Josh Edwards (sr, JDHS) 51.34; 3) Braxton Kelly (fr, Monroe) 52.54; 5) Hakon Eddy (fr, Petersburg) 55.20; 10) Hunter Eckert (so, Ketchikan) 57.13.
100 Yard Freestyle
Girls - 1) Katya Foy (so, JDHS) 54.91; 2) Katelynn Baxter (so, North Pole) 55.52; 3) Bailey Fisher (sr, JDHS) 55.78; 7) Kaelyn Szefler (sr, JDHS) 56.41; 12) Maddie Manlulu (so, JDHS) 57.72.
Boys - 1) Matthew Baker (sr, Eagle River) 47.58; 2) Beck LaBoucane (jr, Colony) 47.58; 3) Corin Colliver (sr, Sitka) 48.22; 4) Tommy McCarthy (jr, Sitka) 48.44; 10) Cedar Powers (so, Sitka) 50.68; Alt 17) Evan Roskam (fr, Ketchikan) 52.10.
500 Yard Freestyle
Girls - 1) Emma Castimore (jr, Kenai) 5:28.65; 2) Nora Fawcett (so, Service) 5:33.31; 3) Caitlyn Rumph (sr, Eagle River) 5:33.68; 4) Bella Miller (jr, Petersburg) 5:34.08; 5) Cora Soboleff (so, JDHS) 5:34.46; 10) Maddox Rasmussen (sr, JDHS) 5:49.16; 14) Kendyl Lachapelle (fr, Petersburg) 6:02.70.
Boys - 1) Colin Russian (so, Eagle River) 4:50.34; 2) Nate Shockley (sr, Eagle River) 4:56.59; 5) Zach Martens (sr, Sitka) 4:57.44; 6) Ben Lihou (fr, Sitka) 5:02.90; 12) Phin Edwards (sr, Sitka) 5:25.51; 15) Henry Thatcher (so, JDHS) 5:36.41; Alt 16) Chedi Giron (sr, JDHS) 5:43.16.
200 Yard Freestyle Relay
Girls - 1) Eagle River - K. Rollins, Teodora Curcin, Caitlyn Rumph, Trembath - 1:42.67; 2) JDHS - Woodruff, Miller, Taintor, Manlulu - 1:44.13; 3) Colony 1:44.24; 8) Sitka - A. McCarthy, Rice, Mackenzie Martens, Fleming - 1:46.52.
Boys - 1) Sitka - T. McCarthy, Powers, Lihou, Colliver - 1:28.95; 2) Eagle River - CJ Rollins, Deisseroth, Nate Shockley, Baker - 1:30.91; 3) Colony 1:31.05; 5) JDHS - Aldrich, Edwards, S. Pallenberg, Phelps - 1:32.86; Alt 9) Petersburg - Eddy, fr Cedar Littleton, fr Derek Allison, Hulebak - 1:37.57.
100 Yard Backstroke
Girls - 1) Taryn Fleming (sr, Sitka) 1:00.42; 2) Addylyn Gore-Hall (jr, West Valley) 1:02.26; 3) Katya Foy (so, JDHS) 1:02.45; 8) Olivia Jarvill (fr, Sitka) 1:04.73; 10) Kaelyn Szefler (sr, JDHS) 1:05.69.
Boys - 1) Lyman McBride (jr, Kenai) 53.09; 2) Cameron Posey (jr, Dimond) 54.26; 3) Braxton Kelly (fr, Monroe) 54.28; 4) Liam Kiessling (jr, JDHS) 54.85; 9) Sam Pallenberg (sr, JDHS) 58.13; 11) Hunter Eckert (so, Ketchikan 58.47; 12) Elliott Galanin (sr, Sitka) 58.78; 13) Levi Phelps (so, JDHS) 58.89.
100 Yard Breaststroke
Girls - 1) Anna Brooks (sr, Service) 1:05.24; 2) Lelaina Trembath (sr, Eagle River) 1:07.06; 3) Lexie Tow (jr, Petersburg) 1:09.21; 4) Kennedy Miller (sr, JDHS) 1:11.63; 6) Riley Soboleff (sr, JDHS) 1:11.96; 8) Aela McCarthy (fr, Sitka) 1:12.45; 10) Josephine Jackson (so, Ketchikan) 1:13.21; 12) Maddie Manlulu (so, JDHS) 1:13.52; 15) Evi Rice (jr, Sitka) 1:15.35.
Boys - 1) Fletcher Darr (jr, Kenai) 1:00.11; 2) Cyrus Hulebak (fr, Petersburg) 1:01.28; 3) Evan Olson (fr, Eagle River) 1:01.59; 4) Josh Edwards (sr, JDHS) 1:02.00; 5) Sawyer Bastian (fr, Sitka) 1:02.47; 9) Kaden Aldrich (sr, JDHS) 1:04.20.
400 Yard Freestyle Relay
Girls - 1) JDHS - Liddle, Woodruff, Szefler, Foy - 3:45.75; 2) Eagle River - Heaphy, C. Rumph, Curcin, Townley - 3:48.37; 3) Kenai 3:48.85.
Boys - 1) Sitka - T. McCarthy, Powers, Lihou, Martens - 3:17.91; 2) Chugiak - Gavin Heath, Maika’i Davis, Luke Whitford, Hunter Fazio - 3:21.56; 3) Eagle River 3:21.92; 6) JDHS - Kiessling, Phelps, Andrews, Pallenberg - 3:29.47.
Note: JI Sports Editor Klas Stolpe is a voting contributor to the ASR.
• Contact Klas Stolpe at sports@juneauindependent.com
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