“Hey you! You know the story! We’ll tell the whole wide world this is Gold territory!” was the cheer that kicked off the Nanooks Blue-Gold Intrasquad meet on Saturday where Gold took Blue in a close 105-95 meet.

Gold was in the lead going into the final event, the 400 meter free-style relay, and with Jacqueline vanDriessche, Sam Zinsli, Kathryn Niemi, and Sarah Rockwell each swimming a leg of the relay they made it to the wall first to seal the victory for the Gold team.

The team is a very diverse group this year with swimmers from as far east as Ohio and as far west as Moscow, Russia. Mariya Pavlovskaya, from Korolev Moscow, is the first international swimmer to be on the Nanook team. The Nanooks have high hopes for the season. “I think the season is going to go well. We all work well together and spending time together helps.” said sophomore Kelly Becker. “I’ve been on many teams before,” said freshman Sarah Rockwell, “But never one so consistent. Everyone is there at 4:45 in the morning to practice.”

The Nanooks have several returning record holders this year. Last season sophomore Jacqueline vanDriessche set school records in the 50-yard free style and in the opening leg of the 400 yard relay, which she also swam on Saturday helping the Gold team to their victory. She has records in the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke.

Kelly Becker, UAF’s first All-American swimmer in 20 years, earned NCAA B qualifying times in the 1000 freestyle and the 200 butterfly last year, and has also posted a Division A qualifying time in the 200 butterfly. Becker was also part of the 200-yard medley relay that set school records, as well as the 400 yard medley that shattered previous records.

Newcomer to the team Abbey Jackson was a four- time Region 5 champion in the 100-yard backstroke, as well as an Alaska state champion in the 100 yard backstroke in 2004-2005.

Another rookie, Kinsey Laine, from Silver Lake, Wash. swam for the Killer Whales Swim Club where she holds the team records for the 200, 500, and 1000 yard freestyle events as well as the 200 yard butterfly and the 400 Individual medley.

UAF’s first international swimmer Mariya Pavlovskaya helped lead her team to victory at the Moscow Region Championships where she won seven gold medals.

Senior Karin Wagner was a part of the 200 yd medley relay and the 800 yd freestyle relay that set school records, as well as broke the team record in the 50- yard freestyle at the PCSC Conference Championships.

Incoming freshman Erin Widby was a member of the Region Champions 400 yard freestyle relay team for East High School in Anchorage, as well as named MVP of the team.

Junior Samantha Zinsli set a new record in the 1650 freestyle, holds nine individual team records, and is one of only two Nanook swimmers to score points at the PCSC Conference Championships.

The Nanooks are positive and looking forward to a great season, which is set to kick off October 12 at the PCSC Pentathlon/ Relay Invitational in Riverside, California.