Eagle River Boys and Juneau-Douglas Girls Win 2026 ASAA State Swimming Titles

Eagle River boys secure first state swimming title

“It’s been a great year,” Eagle River senior Matthew Baker said following the 2026 ASAA Swim and Dive State Championships.

The Eagle River High School boys’ team captured its first-ever state title on Saturday at Bartlett High School in Anchorage, according to reports from KTUU and the Anchorage Daily News.

The Wolves’ victory was a massive statistical leap for the program. Just one year ago, the team finished in seventh place, but they secured this year’s championship with a commanding 44-point margin over runner-up Sitka.

Wolves dominate individual events

Eagle River’s performance was defined by depth and individual excellence. The team won six of the 12 available events and featured five individual champions, according to the Anchorage Daily News.

Matthew Baker, who received the boys’ Most Outstanding Competitor award, won both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle events. Nate Shockley, a team captain, also secured two gold medals in the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle. Shockley’s 500-yard freestyle time was recorded at 4:47.31, while his 200-yard victory came in 1:43.49, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

Eagle River Boys and Juneau-Douglas Girls Win 2026 ASAA State Swimming Titles — Photo: webcenterfairbanks.com

Evan Olson contributed to the championship run by winning the 100-yard breaststroke. The Wolves also took gold in the 200-yard medley relay with a team consisting of Baker, CJ Rollins, Noah Unks, and Andrew Deisseroth.

“I was all over the place going into this, and I didn’t know what was going to happen,” Nate Shockley told the Anchorage Daily News. “I just went out there and was like, ‘Whatever happens, I’m going to give it my all until the very end, no matter what,’ and I did it and it worked out super well.”

Eagle River head coach Patrick Garrity noted that many of his swimmers achieved personal bests during the meet. He credited the success to the strategic efforts of his athletes, stating that some swam specifically for the team to maximize their points.

Juneau-Douglas breaks Eagle River sweep

While the boys’ side saw a new champion, the girls’ competition featured a return to form for Juneau-Douglas High School. The Crimson Bears claimed the state title, narrowly defeating Eagle River by 10.5 points to prevent a total Wolves sweep of the championships.

Eagle River, Juneau-Douglas capture state swimming titles at ASAA championships

This victory marks a significant milestone for Juneau-Douglas, as the team had finished in second place for the previous two consecutive years. The win prevented Eagle River’s girls from completing a “three-peat” of state titles, a feat the girls’ team had pursued following their strong performance in recent seasons, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

Service senior Anna Brooks was named the girls’ Most Outstanding Competitor. Brooks took first place in both the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard breaststroke, while also helping the Cougars secure two second-place relay finishes and a third-place overall team standing, according to KTUU.

Individual honors in diving

The state championships also highlighted excellence in the diving events. Colony senior Claire Wallstrum claimed the girls’ state title, while Colter Gose of Wasilla took the gold in the boys’ event, according to KTUU.

Eagle River's Matthew Baker looks at the scoreboard after winning the 50 yard freestyle during the ASAA state swimming — Photo: adn.com

The final team standings for the major categories are outlined below:

Category	First Place	Second Place	Margin of Victory
Boys Team	Eagle River	Sitka	44 points
Girls Team	Juneau-Douglas	Eagle River	10.5 points

For Shockley, the win served as a redemption arc. He noted that during his sophomore year, the team had come close to a championship but suffered a “really tragic disqualification,” he told the Anchorage Daily News.

“It’s so great that me and Matthew, who were sophomores at the time, get to come back and get this win at state and regions,” Shockley said.