
Pacific Ricke and Lucia Chapell competed in the Junior Olympics in Anchorage this weekend, where they were named to the Alaska zones team.
“Zones is a very competitive, very fast swim meet held for all the different zones of the United States,” coach Jackie St. Claire said.
To be named to the state team requires a qualifying time for the meet, or be one of the top two simmers in the state for their events. “Right before the girls swam their 200-yard backstroke they got called up along with 35 other athletes to be part of the all-star team. It made me tear up,” St. Claire said. “They have worked hard all season and I am so proud of them.”
“I was really surprised. I didn’t think it would actually happen because there are a lot of fast girls that are my age that were pretty likely to get that spot,” Chapell said.
Ricke placed second in four events and Chapell placed second in two events and third in two others.
“We’ve been working most of the season to try to get this,” Ricke said.
Although the Haines Dolphins swim season is officially over, the girls will have to continue training throughout the spring and summer to prepare for their zone meet in August.
Thirteen swimmers also traveled to Whitehorse to compete in the Yukon Champs where all the athletes earned their best times.