The time is
just about here for Arizona’s swimmers and divers to show what they are made
of.
Athletes
from schools such as Xavier Prep have competed mostly in “virtual meets’’ over
the past several weeks.
Recently,
the Xavier athletes have been carrying on an annual tradition by shaving hair
from their bodies (to make they are more hydrodynamic), and “tapering’’ their
preparation (consolidating their workouts to conserve energy and provide more
of an opportunity for rest).
Of course, state
participants are required to qualify for the Division I meet, which will be
held on Friday (Nov. 6) at the Skyline Aquatic Center in east Mesa. The diving
portion of the meet will be held at the Brophy Aquatic Complex, also on Friday.
Swim
qualifying was held recently at various locations, including the AMDG qualifier
at Brophy on Saturday (Oct. 31). Seven girls’ teams, including Xavier and most
of the schools from the Gilbert District, were in the AMDG.
Xavier won
all three relay events and six individual events and outdistanced second-place
Gilbert Campo Verde for the team title, 544-307.
The top 30
swimmers from around the state and top 24 relay teams are eligible for state
action.
Xavier swim
head coach Mark Rankin had 12 swimmers qualify in the individual events
along with the three relay teams. The relays are possibly the strongest events
for the Gators.
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Xavier Prep seniors Kelly Scott, left, and Mia Rankin are ready for the Division I state meet on Nov. 6. (Photo by Don Ketchum).
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Among the
top Xavier individuals are seniors Mia Rankin and Kelly Scott. Rankin competes
in the 500-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley, and two relay events,
the 400-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle. While Rankin relies more on
endurance, Scott looks to “get up and go,’’ as she calls it, in the sprint
races, the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, along with the 400-yard freestyle relay
and the 200-yard medley relay.
Mia Rankin
admitted it has been a “super weird season, not having any friends or family at
the meets. You’re essentially swimming against yourself, while the other team
swims at its home pool.’’
Whatever
situation arises, Scott vows to be ready.
“Because we
are seniors, this is the last one,’’ she said. “I’m going to go out there and
swim as fast as I can and maybe even go out with a bang (earn a medal).’’
The biggest
challenge for the Gators will be against Scottsdale Chaparral, which will be a
heavy favorite after winning the last two state titles. When Chaparral went
against XCP in the first virtual meet of the season, the Firebirds produced a
comfortable win. Chaparral has the top state qualifiers in six individual events,
plus three relays. In one individual event, the 200-yard freestyle, the
Firebirds had the top four qualifiers.
Rankin calls
the 200 IM “my sprint race,’’ because it is much shorter than the 500 free.
With Scott’s
participation in the sprint events, “there’s not enough time to even think,’’ she
says. “You are used to the speed and go out there and to the best you can.’’
She also
admits that she enjoys the challenge of chasing opponents down and passing
them.
Scott said
she has some of what are called “fast twitch muscles,’’ which are somewhat
common in these types of events. Scott added that her parents did some sprint
work in track and field sprints and had similar characteristics.
The most
enjoyable races, according to Rankin, are the relays.
“You are
swimming with three other girls, and the race sometimes can change with any leg
(of the four swimmers),’’ she said. “You want to try to give your team the lead
as early as you can.’’
The girls’
and boys’ state meets have been run concurrently in the past, but this year
will be the same day but at different times, boys at 8:30 a.m., girls at 2:30
p.m. to lessen the chances to exposure of the COVID-19 virus with not as many
people around. Spectators are not allowed, per Arizona Interscholastic
Association edict.
The Gators
are wearing new suits this season, which Rankin helped with the selection of a
teal/aquamarine color. Scott also was in on the fun, helping to design the
light blue T-shirts that are a part of the “team uniform.’’
Once
Rankin’s Xavier days are done, she will honor her commitment to study and swim
at Ohio State University. Scott has not chosen a college, but she is hopeful
for a chance to attend and swim at Notre Dame.
And wouldn’t
it be nice if the girls could pack a state meet medal or two in their luggage
to give them something to remember about their final season as a Gator?
Xavier results in AMDG state qualifying
meet
200-yard
medley relay – XCP,
1st (Junior Gracie Munk, senior Paola Guerra, junior Hope Nolan,
senior Kelly Scott), 1:46.48.
200-yard
freestyle – Jordan
Herrera, Sr., 3rd, 1:56.23. Daisy Maldonado, Jr., 8th,
2:02.49. Ava Gill, Fr., 14th, 2:09.75. Citlali Chimal, Sr., 18th,
2:13.89.
200-yard
individual medley –
Mia Rankin, Sr., 1st, 2:06.54. Grace Hull, Jr., 5th,
2:16.03. Regan Gunzy, Sr., 9th, 2:24.15. Bella Guerra, Fr., 2:26.18.
50-yard
freestyle – Kelly
Scott, Sr., 1st, 23.76. Lainey Weiland, So., 3rd, 25.04.
Paola Guerra, Sr., 4th, 25.10. Dylan Miller, So., 6th,
25.53.
100-yard
butterfly – Gracie
Munk, Jr., 1st, 56.88. Hope Nolan, Jr., 3rd, 58.66.
Jordan Herrera, Sr., 4th, 58.96. Grace Hull, Jr., 5th,
1:01.64.
100-yard
freestyle – Kelly
Scott, Sr., 1st, 51.96. Dylan Miller, So., 4th, 55.38.
Lainey Weiland, So., 5th, 55.53. Daisy Maldonado, Jr., 8th,
56.50.
500-yard
freestyle – Mia
Rankin, Sr., 1st, 5:03.89. Ashleigh Baros, Jr., 4th,
5:22.83. Ava Gill, Fr., 9th, 5:46.07. Citlali Chimal, Sr., 12th,
5:58.52.
200-yard
freestyle relay –
XCP, 1st (Senior Paola Guerra, junior Hope Nolan, senior Mia Rankin,
senior Jordan Herrera), 1:39.34.
100-yard
backstroke – Gracie
Munk, Jr., 1st, 57.73. Claire Douglas, Jr., 7th, 1:04.39.
Cassie Worth, So., 8th, 1:04.67. Bethany Barnwell, Sr., 9th,
1:05.95.
100-yard
breaststroke – Paola
Guerra, Sr., 2nd, 1:06.77. Hope Nolan, Jr., 3rd, 1:10.35.
Regan Gunzy, Sr., 5th, 1:12.26. Ashleigh Baros, Jr., 10th,
1:14.15.
400-yard
freestyle relay –
XCP, 1st (Senior Kelly Scott, junior Gracie Munk, senior Jordan
Herrera, senior Mia Rankin), 3:34.28.
Team
scores – Xavier Prep
544, Gilbert Campo Verde 307, Gilbert High 292, Mesa Desert Ridge 274, Gilbert
Highland 247, Gilbert Mesquite 124, Gilbert Classical 94.
Xavier state qualifiers
200-yard
medley relay (2nd).
200-yard
freestyle (Jordan Herrera 7th, Daisy Maldonado 29th).
200-yard
individual medley (Mia Rankin 5th, Grace Hull 18th).
50-yard
freestyle (Kelly Scott 2nd, Lainey Weiland 11th, Paola
Guerra 14th, Dylan Miller 17th).
100-yard
butterfly (Gracie Munk 2nd, Hope Nolan 9th, Jordan
Herrera 10th, Grace Hull 23rd).
100-yard
freestyle (Kelly Scott 2nd, Dylan Miller 15th, Lainey
Weiland 16th, Daisy Maldonado 22nd).
500-yard
freestyle (Mia Rankin 2nd, Ashleigh Baros 19th).
200-yard
freestyle relay (2nd).
100-yard
backstroke (Gracie Munk 4th).
100-yard
breaststroke (Paola Guerra 6th, Hope Nolan 16th, Regan
Gunzy 25th, Ashleigh Baros 30th).
400-yard
freestyle relay (2nd).