The annual Swim-a-Thon fundraiser for the Haines Dolphins swim team is this Saturday, April 9, from 9-11 a.m. at the pool.

The team has set a goal of raising $17,000, or about $500 per swimmer.

Participants collect flat-rate donations or pledges for each length of the pool they swim, with a cap at 200 lengths within the two-hour time limit. Donations can be made online at www.swim-a-thon.com.

Ten Dolphins got some extra practice for the event last weekend at the spring Southeast Champs meet in Juneau. Teams from Craig, Ketchikan and Sitka also made the trip.

“There were a lot of best times, a lot of which were more than 10 seconds faster than previous swims, including Lucia Chapell, Pacific Ricke, Sally Chapell, Nate White and Dylan Chapell,” said Dolphin coach Lauren Rutland.

Among first-time event entrants for the Dolphins were Leo Wald in the 500 freestyle; White, Carson Rutland and Nolan Wald in the 100 backstroke; and Rio Ross-Hirsh in the 200 freestyle.

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