Raccoon tickler terrorizes girl to swimming championship

High-school freshwoman urged on to victory

by tickling pet raccoon

Wasilla AK/ Officials at recent high school swimming meets here are in disagreement over whether a competitor's pet raccoon shall be allowed to boost her speed at Alaskan contests. This is a phenomenon peculiar to the state's plentiful wildlife.

"In the lower 48 this would never fly," Grace Kari admitted. In her case it began innocently enough when she would swim recreationally with her raccoon, and attempt to escape his habitual tickling. But swimmer Kari soon realized that in her desperate effort to move out of range of her four-legged friend she was becoming a speed swimmer.

So far, the coon, Rocky, has been allowed to participate in the swim meets, and Grace is all smiles as she moves up the ranks.

to be continued