Nine swimmers from Valdez High School traveled to Unalaska for a dual swim meet with Unalaska City School October 2, 2015. The Buccaneers swim team, coached by Leo Overduyn, is led by Emily Doyel, Kassady Doyel, Josie McNelly, and Rylee Norris – four returning State swimmers from the 2014 season.
The Unalaska Raiders had a promising performance though the Valdez teams came out on top in most of the head-to-head competitions. Unalaska’s Jonathan Le and Amiel Fernandez finished 1st and 2nd in the Boys 200 Yard Freestyle event. Jonathan Le and Amber Le finished 1st in the Boys and Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke event. Kiara Villamor and Delanney McConnell finished 2nd and 3rd in the Girls 100 Yard Butterfly event. Delanney McConnell and Marjamae Pili finished 2nd and 4th in the Girls 200 Yard Freestyle event.
The three-hour exhibition-style meet featured the 13-member Unalaska Jr. High swim team. All swimmers competed in at least three out of eight individual events and two relay events. Every Junior High swimmers improved in at least one of their events. Peder Jeppensen, Kai Lloyd, Shane Morris, Liam Robinson, and Sasha Rankin achieved their personal best times in all three of their individual events.
This marked the last home meet of the season and capped the eight-week season for Jr. High swimmers. The high school team will travel to Palmer for the Valley Invitational October 16th and 17thand to Valdez for the Region III Swimming and Diving Championships on October 29th – 31st. Unalaska swim teams are coached by D. Tyrell McGirt and Erin Reinders.