Future looks bright for XCP swimmers & divers

The Xavier Prep swimming and diving team didn’t quite make it to the top of the team championship list in Saturday’s (Nov. 5) Division I state meet at the Skyline Aquatic Center in east Mesa, but the Gators have set the stage for an even stronger future under coach Maureen Rankin.

The Gators finished fourth behind winner Phoenix Desert Vista, No. 2 Chandler High and No. 3 Chandler Hamilton. Xavier was only eight points behind Hamilton.

Junior Kaitlyn McCoy was Xavier’s star in the pool, winning the 200-yard individual medley (2:03.59) and the 100-yard backstroke (56.03). She also helped the Gators finish fourth in the 200-yard medley relay and sixth in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

McCoy’s effort in the 200 IM was particularly impressive as she defeated Jaiyden Wolfe of Mesa Desert Ridge by nearly two seconds.

Junior Mary Roediger finished fourth in the 50-yard freestyle (23.92) and was fifth in the100-yard breaststroke (1:07.49). Roediger also swam in the 200-yard medley relay and the fourth-place 200-yard freestyle relay (1:39.30).

Freshman Olivia Paliscak and senior Quinn Blake also participated in the 200-yard medley relay. Roediger’s teammates in the 200 free relay were junior Thea Cartier, Blake and sophomore Izzy Gomez.

Joining McCoy in the 400 free relay were Gomez, freshman Vica Dow and Paliscak.

Xavier also appears that it will be a factor in 1-meter diving in the future. The Gators feature three sophomores and a freshman.

Sophomore Alyssa Largay finished fourth in the 2016 competition with 383.45 points. Freshman Mady Sewell was seventh at 349.60, sophomore Molly Cahill was 17^th at 221.75 and sophomore Talle Donley was 18^th at 212.60.