Homer’s Carly Nelson nabs 2 state swim titles, Seward boys relay also wins

Kenai Peninsula swimmers claimed three state titles at the 2022 Alaska School Activities Association/First National Bank Alaska Swim & Dive State Championships this weekend at Bartlett High School in Anchorage.

Seward’s relay team claimed the top spot in the 200-yard freestyle relay – the first relay title in Seward’s history – and Homer’s Carly Nelson brought home individual wins in both the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle.

By team scores, the state championship was claimed by Dimond on the girls side and Service for the boys.

For the girls, Homer was ranked 11th and Soldotna was 14th, both by the efforts of only two contestants each in the Saturday finals. Kenai and Seward were not ranked for the girls because they had no swimmers in finals.

Seward tied for second on the boys side, where Kenai took 13th and Homer 16th. Soldotna was not ranked because no Stars competed in finals.

Ahead of the meet, Seward coach Solomon D’ Amico said his focus was on the relays, hoping to establish his boys as some of the fastest swimmers in the state.

They did just that by turning their first seed qualifying time into a win in the 200 freestyle relay, but they showed up in the other two relays just as well, landing fifth in the 200 medley relay by under a second, and falling short of adding a second title to their run by only seven-hundredths of a second in the 400 freestyle relay – the tightest finish of the night.

“We gave it our all,” said Nickolas Ambrosiani, who, alongside his brother Bengimin Ambrosiani, plus Paxton Hill and Jackson Bird, swam each of the three relays for Seward. “We came up a little short, but nothing to be sad about.”

Nickolas said the entire season was just about “swimming with my boys.” The four are seniors, going out on a high note.

“You can’t be disappointed,” he said of the photo finish in the final race.

Nelson’s 500 freestyle win was similarly thrilling. She and Samantha Schwarting, of Juneau-Douglas, swam side-by-side for much of the race. It wasn’t until the final length of the pool that Nelson pulled away, locking in her win by a margin of fewer than two seconds, very tight for the long-distance event.

Nelson, who entered the competition as the first seed, said the strategy coach Caleb Miller gave her was to go out easier than the competition. Looking at Schwarting in particular, the goal was to “swim her out.”

“I always try to descend down in my distance races,” Nelson said.

Hunter Fry, a teammate of Nelson’s from Homer, also saw the podium for the 500, landing the third place finish. He said that he was happy with the performance, especially because he was still feeling tired from the 100 butterfly he swam shortly before it.

Between the 500 freestyle win and the 100 butterfly, Nelson claimed two first-place finishes for Homer, and was the only peninsula swimmer to claim an individual title.

“I’m really happy, last year I got second and third in my events, so it’s really cool to come back and win state,” she said.

Nelson, a junior, said she intends to repeat this year’s success next season.

“I’d like to swim these races again,” she said. “Go faster and win again.”

There were several Peninsula juniors already training their eyes on the future on Saturday.

Abriella Werner, a Soldotna diver, claimed the third-place finish last year as a sophomore. Earlier this season she was building momentum, claiming a SoHi dive record that had stood for 17 years. She ended up landing fifth, missing a spot on the podium by 17 points.

“I definitely could have done better in prelims, and that probably would have gotten me to place,” Werner said. “But I feel really good about it. I’m only a junior and the top three girls did really really well.”

She said she didn’t land a couple of twisters as well as she needed to early in the meet, and never made up the points. Unlike the swimming events, which run fresh on the day of finals, the divers build up one score across three diving sessions on the two days.

Werner said next year she would be back with a better mind-set, that she’d break her own six-dive record, go for the 11-dive record, and make a run for the state title. This year’s top three finishers are all graduating seniors.

Charisma Watkins, another junior, was the only Soldotna swimmer to compete Saturday, finishing sixth in the 100 butterfly after being seeded eighth.

“I’m glad I got to swim,” she said after the race. “I’m gonna take a nice break and come back.”

That break won’t be too long, as Watkins said her attention was already on the Alaska Senior Swimming State Championship in January, and that she would be back and focused for her senior season next year.

SoHi is a team with a lot of juniors, including Nikita Monyahan, who was the first alternate for the 500 freestyle, finishing ninth in prelims and missing the finals by half a second.

One swimmer with equal ambitions, but who won’t be returning next year, is Kenai’s Samuel Anderson.

Anderson, a senior, had three showings on Saturday, one of which landed him on the podium. He claimed fourth in the 100 backstroke, missed the podium by seconds in the 200 freestyle, and swam with his relay in the 200 medley.

“My backstroke felt good,” he said. “I’m proud of it. It’s a fun race, it was a really tight race, I’m just proud of everybody who swam it.”

With his senior season concluded, Anderson said he was going to be staying busy preparing for college, where he hopes to continue swimming.

“There’s a lot of stuff I can work on, even now,” he said. “So much I can improve on. I can really see myself going someplace in college and doing a really good job there.”

2022 Alaska School Activities Association/First National Bank Alaska Swim & Dive State Championships Results

Girls:

Team Scores: 1. Dimond, 86; 2. Colony, 77; 3. South Anchorage, 61; 4. West Valley, 54; 5. Juneau Douglas, 52; 5. Eagle River, 52; 7. Thunder Mountain, 45.5; 8. Kodiak, 21.5; 9. Chugiak, 21; 9. Sitka, 21; 11. Homer, 19; 12. Wasilla, 9; 12. Palmer, 9; 14. Soldotna, 7; 15. Hutchison, 6; 16. Craig, 4; 17. Robert Service, 3

200 Yard Medley Relay – 1. Dimond (Boyce, Borke, Waters, Edals), 1:49.57; 2. Colony, 1:51.31; 3. Eagle River, 1:51.80; 4. South Anchorage, 1:52.87; 5. Thunder Mountain, 1:53.68; 6. West Valley, 1:56.18; 7. Chugiak, 1:56.58

200 Freestyle – 1. Samantha Bristor, Wes 1:54.34; 2. Samantha Schwarting, Jun Douglas 1:55.79; 3. Lola Woodward, Eag 1:56.37; 4. Merica Miller, Col 2:00.02; 5. Hannah Boyce, Dim 2:01.29; 6. Paige Antrobus, Dim 2:04.60; 7. Hannah Cooper, Col 2:05.88; 8. Kylie Benner, Col 2:06.00

200 IM – 1. Emma Fellman, Jun 2:07.78; 2. Alexandria Anderson, Col 2:08.44; 3. Zoe Fencil, Sou 2:17.92; 4. Reese Woodward, Eag 2:18.73; 5. Lori Houghton, Col 2:20.65; 6. Ada Creighton, Cra 2:20.80; 7. Gabie Anderson, Thu 2:21.31

50 Freestyle – 1. Isabelle Borke, Dim 23.99; 2. Charlotte Griffith, Sou 24.81; 3. Amaya Rocheleau, Kod 25.31; 4. Blaque Secor, Wes 25.46; 5. Alison Narog, Kod 25.58; 6. Talia Wentz, Wes 25.71; 7. Sadie Jenkins, Thu 26.07; 7. Morgan Hagen, Kod 26.07

1 meter Diving – 1. Ally Hrncir, Pal 425.55; 2. Audrey Dietz, Was 400.20; 3. Grace Greene, Hut 369.10; 4. Charlize McManus, Col 363.10; 5. Abriella Werner, Sol 346.25; 6. Faith Colman, Rob 326.50; 7. Kichelle Frizzelle, Was 318.65; 8. Ava Pletnikoff, Wes 312.55

100 Butterfly – 1. Carly Nelson, Hom 57.18; 2. Caroline Waters, Dim 58.53; 3. Emma Gassman, Sit 59.18; 4. Kylie Benner, Col 1:00.90; 5. Reese Woodward, Eag 1:01.73; 6. Charisma Watkins, Sol 1:02.42; 7. Klayeah Lozada, Sit 1:02.90; 8. Ada Creighton, Cra 1:04.28

100 Freestyle – 1. Samantha Bristor, Wes 51.93; 2. Isabelle Borke, Dim 52.07; 3. Charlotte Griffith, Sou 53.60; 4. Merica Miller, Col 54.21; 5. Caitlin Sanders, Thu 55.88; 6. Talia Wentz, Wes 56.03; 7. Blaque Secor, Wes 56.05; 8. Stella Baldessari, Sou 57.52

500 Freestyle – 1. Carly Nelson, Hom 5:11.47; 2. Samantha Schwarting, Jun 5:13.40; 3. Hannah Cooper, Col 5:27.71; 4. Kaia Reeg, Sou 5:29.78; 5. Sophia Trembath, Eag 5:36.96; 6. Sadie Jenkins, Thu 5:40.01; 7. Reese Romspert, Sou 5:43.22; 8. Elise Petrie, Chu 5:43.42

200 Freestyle Relay – 1. Thunder Mountain (Jenkins, Jenkins, Mills, Sanders), 1:40.88; 2. Dimond, 1:41.28; 3. Eagle River, 1:41.76; 4. Juneau Douglas, 1:42.36; 5. West Valley, 1:42.45; 6. Kodiak, 1:43.09; 7. Chugiak, 1:47.88

100 Backstroke – 1. Lola Woodward, Eag 57.99; 2. Zoe Fencil, Sou 59.40; 3. Hannah Boyce, Dim 59.42; 4. Emma Gassman, Sit 59.99; 5. Amaya Rocheleau, Kod 1:00.47; 6. Dannan Mills, Thu 1:01.68; 7. Caitlin Sanders, Thu 1:01.82; 8. Gabie Anderson, Thu 1:01.84

100 Breaststroke – 1. Alexandria Anderson, Col 1:03.41; 2. Emma Fellman, Jun 1:05.76; 3. Jaelin Burrell, Chu 1:08.48; 4. Stella Baldessari, Sou 1:10.19; 5. Mayumi Schaetzle, Wes 1:10.64; 6. Olivia Mills, Thu 1:10.89; 7. Kaia Reeg, Sou 1:11.23; 8. Annabelle Franciscone, Hom 1:11.61

400 Freestyle Relay – 1. Dimond (Waters, Kass, Antrobus, Boyce), 3:41.69; 2. Colony, 3:41.87; 3. Juneau Douglas, 3:42.41; 4. South Anchorage, 3:46.92; 5. Sitka, 3:46.92; 6. Chugiak, 3:53.70; 7. West Valley. 3:54.49

Boys:

Team Scores: 1. Robert Service, 118; 2. Eagle River, 51; 2. Seward, 51; 4. Juneau Douglas, 48; 5. Dimond, 47; 6. Chugiak, 43; 7. West Valley, 39; 8. Thunder Mountain, 28; 9. West Anchorage, 24; 10. Wasilla, 21; 11. Colony, 18; 12. Kodiak, 17; 13. Kenai Central, 11; 14. Ketchikan, 9; 14. Cordova, 9; 16. Homer, 8; 17. South Anchorage, 6; 18. Palmer, 3; 19. Craig, 2; 19. Wrangell, 2

200 Medley Relay – 1. Robert Service (Kitchen, Kwon, Wisdom, Fawcett); 2. Eagle River, 1:37.99; 3. Juneau Douglas, 1:38.92; 4. Dimond, 1:39.78; 5. Seward, 1:40.13; 6. West Valley, 1:42.44; 7. Kodiak, 1:42.90; 8. Kenai Central, 1:44.36

200 Freestyle – 1. Patrick Foy, Thu 1:40.16; 2. Reuben Dobson, Chu 1:43.42; 3. Conrad Fawcett, 1:44.36; 4. Harrison Holt, 1:46.57; 5. Samuel Anderson, Ken 1:49.73; 6. Zen Schaetzle, Wes 1:50.43; 7. Will McKinley, Dim 1:50.51; 8. Titus Saugier, Sou 1:51.31

200 IM – 1. Benjamin Price, Rob 1:55.43; 2. Chaz VanSlyke, Jun 1:57.23; 3. Karson Kolberg, Eag 1:58.36; 4. Max Robinson, Kod 2:01.97; 5. Sven Rasmussen, Thu 2:02.25; 6. Preston Kwon, Rob 2:02.43; 7. Ezrah Maio, Wes 2:02.60; Chris Degener, Jun 2:02.77

50 Freestyle – 1. Andrew Billings, Dim 21.14, 2. Ari Kaufman, Wes 21.38; 3. Wesley Mank, Eag 21.59; 4. Kyan Harnum, Wes 21.82; 5. Kristofer Vangorder, Col 21.95; 6. William Kitchen, Rob 22.23; 7. Nickolas Ambrosiani, Sew 22.43; 8. Lucas Wisdom, Rob 22.64

1 meter Diving – 1. Deshawn Campbell, Was 413.00; 2. Travis Thorton, Was 368.85; 3. Jacob Light, Chu 350.10; 4. Calvin Musgrave, Was 349.75; 5. Reuben Williams, Rob 325.80; 6. Craig Elledge, Pal 317; 7. Caleb Dobson, Chu 315.00; 8. Stig Cunningham, Thu 284.10

100 Butterfly – 1. Patrick Foy, Thu 48.46; 2. Ari Kaufman, Wes 50.81; 3. Reuben Dobson, Chu 51.11; 4. Chaz VanSlyke, Jun 52.09; 5. Paxton Hill, Sew 54.01; 6. Sven Rasmussen, Thu 54.85; 7. Hunter Fry, Hom 55.26; 8. Zen Schaetzle, Wes 55.37

100 Freestyle – 1. Andrew Billings, Dim 46.69; 2. Benjamin Price, Rob 47.03; 3. Kyan Harnum, Wes 47.28; 4. Bengimin Ambrosiani, Sew 48.71; 5. Kristofer Vangorder, Col 48.82; 6. Trent Fritsch, Cor 49.21; 7. Jack Roberts, Wra 50.01; 8. Tyson Morgan, Chu 50.30

500 Freestyle – 1. Conrad Fawcett, Rob 4:42.93; 2. Jan Beck, Rob 4:47.38; 3. Hunter Fry, Hom 4:56.60; 4. Kole Rhodes, Sou 5:04.75; 5. Kellan DenBleyker, Col 5:05.69; 6. Christopher Michael, Chu 5:06.15; 7. Henry Rapasky, Wes 5:08.20; 8. Chris Degener, Jun 5:15.97

200 Freestyle Relay – 1. Seward (Ambrosiani, Ambrosiani, Bird, Hill), 1:28.64; 2. Robert Service, 1:29.42; 3. Dimond, 1:29.50; 4. Eagle River, 1:30.38; 5. Chugiak, 1:31.00; 6. West Anchorage, 1:31.02; 7. West Valley, 1:32.45; 8. Thunder Mountain, 1:34.16

100 Backstroke – 1. William Kitchen, Rob 52.65; 2. Wesley Mank, Eag 52.93; 3. Trent Fritsch, Cor 53.84; 4. Samuel Anderson, Ken 53.99; 5. Harrison Holt, Jun 54.41; 6. Will McKinley, Dim 54.86; 7. Grant Maygren, Cra 56.66; 8. Ezrah Maio, Wes 56.87

100 Breaststroke – 1. Trevor Dash, Ket 58.66; 2. Ashton Banks, Wes 58.83; 3. Preston Kwon, Rob 59.04; 4. Karson Kolberg, Eag 59.96; 5. Jan Beck, Rob 1:00.98; 6. Elias Rumph, Eag 1:01.69; 7. Paul Cvancara, Dim 1:02:19; 8. Matthew Plang, Jun 1:02.71

400 Freestyle Relay – 1. Robert Service (Price, Kitchen, Beck, Fawcett), 3:15.30; 2. Seward, 3:15.37; 3. Juneau Douglas, 3:17.51; 4. Chugiak, 3:18.07; 5. Kodiak, 3:22.61; 6. Colony, 3:23.61; 7. West Anchorage, 3:24.56; 8. West Valley, 3:29.78

Bengimin Ambrosiani swims the 100-yard freestyle during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Bengimin Ambrosiani celebrates after completing the 100-yard freestyle during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Samantha Schwarting (closest), of Juneau-Douglas, and Carly Nelson, of Homer, swim neck-and-neck in the 500-yard freestyle during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Samantha Schwarting, of Juneau Douglas High School, and Carly Nelson, of Homer, celebrate together after completing the 500-yard freestyle during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. The two swam neck and neck for much of the race, but Nelson claimed first place. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Hunter Fry, of Homer, swims the 500 yard freestyle during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Samuel Anderson, of Kenai, looks to his coach after finishing the 200-yard freestyle during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Jackson Bird, of Seward, performs a relay start over teammate Nickolas Ambrosiani during the 200-yard freestyle relay during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Seward’s Paxton Hill celebrates after the 200-yard freestyle relay during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. Seward won the relay, the first relay title claimed by the school in program history. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Samuel Anderson (closest), of Kenai, Wesley Mank, of Eagle River, and William Kitchen, of Service High School, swim the 100-yard backstroke during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Samuel Anderson, of Kenai, and Trent Fritsch, of Cordova, celebrate after completing the 100-yard backstroke during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Annabelle Franciscone, of Homer, swims the 100-yard breaststroke during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska.

Nickolas Ambrosiani swings his arms to loosen up before swimming the 50-yard freestyle during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Nickolas Ambrosiani approaches the surface of the pool while swimming the 50-yard freestyle during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Abriella Werner, of Soldotna, approaches the end of the board for a dive during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)

Homer’s Carly Nelson leaps off the block at the start of the 100-yard butterfly during finals at the ASAA State Swim & Dive Championships on Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)