Eagle River Swim Teams Seek Historic Marks at State Championships

Eagle River High School swimming teams are set to compete in the 2026 ASAA state championships this weekend, with both squads holding strong claims to the top spots. The tournament begins Friday and concludes Saturday at Bartlett High School. The boys team is seeking its first state championship, while the girls team aims to win a third consecutive title.

Head coach Patrick Garrity stated that the boys are motivated by the chance to become the first boys swim team to win the state title at Eagle River High School. He noted that the team is eager to achieve this milestone for the school and for one another. Garrity described the group as well balanced, combining experienced swimmers with younger athletes who are improving the pace for the entire team.

The boys earned their region championship by finishing with nearly 200 more points than runner-up Chugiak. This performance marked the first region title in the program's history for the boys. Senior Nate Shockley, the reigning state champion in the 200 individual medley, will compete in the 500 freestyle and 200 freestyle this weekend. He is also part of multiple relay teams. Shockley chose to sit out the 200 individual medley to focus on events where he believed the team would gain more points.

Sophomore Colin Russian emerged as a standout performer during the regional meet. He defeated Shockley in the 500 freestyle final by a margin of five-hundredths of a second. Shockley noted that Russian dropped five to seven seconds off his previous time in that event. Another young swimmer, Zach Jacobs, has significantly improved his 100 butterfly time. These performances indicate that the team has depth beyond its senior leaders.

The girls team also secured a region IV title, defeating Service by nine points. They won seven of 12 events at regions, including all three relay races. This success adds to their back-to-back state championships from the past two years. Garrity said the team has overcome adversity, including the loss of several members and illnesses that sidelined a few swimmers. Despite these challenges, he stated the team maintains good spirits and a fighting chance for a third title.

Senior Lelaina Trembath is the reigning state champion in the girls 200 freestyle. She will compete in the 100 breaststroke and two relay races in addition to her signature event. Trembath described the 200 freestyle as special because she has competed in it for all four years of high school. She expressed excitement about the 100 breaststroke, noting it is her first time competing in that event at the state level.

Trembath mentioned that Juneau-Douglas and Service are expected to be top competitors at the state meet. The girls team viewed the Bartlett/East Invitational as a preliminary test against non-CIC competition. Garrity said the culture built over the past decade is now being passed to younger swimmers. Sophia Trembath, Lelaina's older sister, graduated last spring and will watch the finals from the University of Oregon.