Anthony Augusto and Brian Ritchie traveled to Anchorage to swim in the 2004 Speedo Senior Region XIV Great Alaska Open last weekend, earning best times in several events. Ritchie swam to best times in his six different events and made two new Sectional times in the 100 and 200 fly. Augusto swam to best times in most of his events and both boys made new qualifying Junior Olympic times in the 1,650 free.

Back at home KSC hosted the St. Patty's Day Invitational. Kristin Faulkner broke the KSC 11-12 record in the 1,000 free formerly held by her sister. Most swimmers dropped their times and Patrick Lane made the Junior Olympic cut in the 50 free with his time of 26:45.

Ski Club tours Anchorage

The Kachemak Nordic Ski Club brought a 26-member contingent to the Tour of Anchorage marathon cross-country ski race last weekend, and brought home eight medals. Jon Berryman and Ken Jones took gold and silver respectively in the 55-59 age group of the 50K skate race with times of 2:52 and 2:57. Doug Schwiesaw grabbed bronze in the 50-54 age group. Megan Corraza skated to a gold medal in the 40K skate race with a time of 2:14, while Sue Strutz grabbed gold in the 25K classic women's race with her time of 1:55. Larry Martin and Marianne Markelz each won silver in the 25K skate men's and women's races, and Jill Berryman scored bronze in the 25K women's skate race. The weather and skiing conditions were both excellent for the 1,313 skiers who participated. Tobias Schwoerer and Abigail Larson were the overall 50K winners.

Wooden Ski Festival on tap

The Kachemak Nordic Ski Club offers area skiers a trip back in time Saturday for the Wooden Ski Festival at the Lookout Mountain Ski Trails (the hayfields). The non-synthetic 2K mass-start race begins at 2 p.m. Here is your chance to take those woodies, woolies and leather out of the closet. For more information contact Daryl at 235-2166 or Dave at 235-6018,

Winter King tourney coming

The 11th annual Homer Winter King Salmon Tournament is scheduled for March 20. Prize-winning fish typically range from 20-35 pounds and can be worth $10,000 or more. Last year's top fish won $13,524. Anglers can register by calling the Homer Chamber of Commerce at 235-7740 or by logging on to www.homeralaska.com and clicking the 2004 Winter King Tournament link. The entry fee is $100. Participants who register by 6 p.m. on March 18 are automatically entered in the early bird drawing for two Era roundtrip tickets from Homer to Anchorage. There is over $70,000 in cash and prizes available to lucky anglers this year.

SNOMADS sponsor ice fishing tournament

Get out your augers! The SNOMADS are throwing an ice fishing tournament at Caribou Lake Saturday beginning at 8:30 a.m. Cash prizes and others will be awarded in a random draw of tickets that are earned by catching Dollies and kokanees for adults plus sticklebacks for kids. Catch and release or catch and eat anglers have equal opportunity to win prizes. The first fish brought back to the check station at Mastolier's Cabin on the south shore of Caribou Lake wins a prize. The entry fee is $10 per person for Snomad members, $15 for non-members. $5 for kids ages seven to 15, 6 and younger free. Contact Dave Mastolier at 235-7208 or 399-1775 for more information.

AP wrestlers surprise at State

Four wrestlers competed and placed at the State Championships for Middle School Wrestlers at Tanana Middle School in Fairbanks last weekend. Robby Brymer placed second with a 4-1 weekend record including a win over the second-seeded wrestler Jake Hoffman from Bethel. Tris Brymer finished third, John Bouman placed third, and Billy Edge placed seventh. The Chapman School placed fourth in the small schools division with only four wrestlers competing. Coach Steve Wolfe said it was the first time the school has taken wrestlers to state, and afterwards everyone was asking "Where's Chapman, do they have a road down there?" he said.

Old men play basketball by the sea

The Homer Community Schools Men's Basketball Championship Tournament will take place Saturday and Sunday at the Homer High School Gym. Five city league teams will battle old age and each other for the title.

Ping pong on parade

Homer Community Schools is putting on a Table Tennis Tournament Saturday in the commons of Homer High School. The deadline for sign up is today at the community schools office.