When the Cook Inlet Conference swimming and diving championships begin today at Bartlett High, competitors won't have to worry about beating East swimmer Sam Wicks.
That's because competition begins with diving preliminaries and swimmers don't hit the pool for preliminaries until Friday. When it comes time to determine champions Saturday, however, Wicks is likely to earn at least a title or two.
Wicks, the state record holder in the girls 100-yard backstroke, has posted this season's fastest time in five of eight individual swimming events.
Along with the 100 backstroke, the senior owns the top time in the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 200 freestyle and 200 individual medley. Those events aren't the only ones Wicks has a good chance to win. She also holds the season's second-fastest times in the 500 freestyle and the 100 butterfly.
The boys side of the competition has two swimmers who own the best time in multiple events this season. Kodiak's Nando Macinko posted the fastest 50 and 100 freestyle, and Petersburgh's Preston Marsh -- last season's state champion in the 200 individual medley -- owns the best time in the 200 individual medley and the 100 breast stroke.
Anchorage Daily News