Things are
going quite swimmingly for the Xavier Prep swimming and diving team, which
features a new head coach and assistant coach and is aiming for a strong
showing in its first meet of the year, on Sept. 2 at Chandler High.
New head
coach Glen Coy and new assistant David Smithers are putting the athletes
through their paces, along with veteran diving coach Frank Pipitone and
returning swim assistant Jenny James, who as a former co-head coach with Mark
Rankin is providing a smooth transition after Rankin departed the program.
The Gators
have a balanced swim roster, with seven seniors, six juniors, six sophomores
and 10 freshmen.
Xavier
finished second for the third straight year in the Division I state meet behind
champion Scottsdale Chaparral.
Those
returning swimmers who placed in the Division I state meet in an individual and/or
relay event are senior Asleigh Baros, senior Grace Hull, senior Dylan Miller,
senior Gracie Munk, senior Hope Nolan and junior Lainey Weiland.
“Everything
has been great so far,’’ said Coy, who was the girls’ swimming head coach at
Mesa Mountain View for more than 20 years after starting out as the boys’ head
coach for four years at Phoenix Mountain Pointe in Ahwatukee.
“I couldn’t
be happier. We have received fantastic support from the administration and
everyone here.’’
One of the
first things Coy noticed when the Gators recently began their preseason
practices, their skill level was beyond other teams. The swimmers picked up
some of that at Xavier and some at the club level.
“They’re
already doing things at this point in the season that many teams were only
getting to by the end of the season,’’ Coy said. “If you can do the little
things well, it can lead you to bigger things.’’
Helped by
the outstanding group of freshmen, Coy said the Gators are “looking to reload,
not rebuild.’’
He is
impressed by the program’s “great tradition. I don’t want to change any of
that. I just want to carry it on.’’
Xavier has
had success across the board in the various events, but seems to step things up
a notch or two when it is time for the relays.
Dylan Miller
hopes to rise in the sprint events and believes she has developed more
confidence.
“The 50
(-yard) free(style) and the 100 free. They are short and fast,’’ she said. “You
have to make sure that you’re motivated. And It’s very important to get a good
start.’’
She enjoyed
working with Mark Rankin and has noticed that Coy’s and Smithers’ approach is
similar, “so there isn’t a whole lot of adjustment. Things are not much
different. We are all pretty excited.’’
The key goal
is replacing the word “runner-up’’ with “champion.’’ Doing so against a
powerhouse such as Chaparral is a daunting task.
“It’s been
three years (since taking the title) and that gives us plenty of motivation,’’
she said.
One of the
younger swimmers to watch is sophomore Elle Edwards. Like Miller, she primarily
is a sprinter, but would also like to try other events.
Issues with
the COVID virus have limited her time in the pool at the club level over the
last year, and she looks forward to making up for lost time.
“The swim
team probably puts in more work than any other,’’ she said. “Five or six days a
week for practice.’’
Most of the
girls have worked with each other at the various club levels or at least know
each other, and that’s what makes the bonding aspect at Xavier a lot of fun,
she said.
“We are
looking forward to the home meets here (at Brophy Prep’s pool) and the pep
rallies, and even the traveling to the away meets. We want to show what we can do.’’
Xavier Prep swimming and diving 2021
Swimming roster
Head coach – Glen Coy. Assistant coaches – David Smithers, Jenny James. Diving coach – Frank Pipitone.
Seniors – Ashleigh Baros, Claire Douglas,
Grace Hull, Daisy Maldonado, Gracie Munk, Hope Nolan, Allegra Wilga.
Juniors – Perla Akiki, Waverly Bagley, Maryn
Day, Dylan Miller, Lainey Weiland, Cassie Worth.
Sophomores – Elle Edwards, Ava Gill, Bella
Guerra, Brooke Person, Madison Siordian, Sophia Sweatlock.
Freshmen – Kate Berman, Carter Cook, Vivian
Edwards, Genevieve George, Malena Lebedeff, Lola Lysak, Ginger Mago, Meredeth
Scott, Krysta Tymkiv, Allie Weiland.
Diving roster
TBA.
2021 schedule
(Subject to
change)
Sept. 2 -- @
Chandler High, 4 p.m.; vs. Phoenix Pinnacle at Phoenix Paradise Valley Pool, 4
p.m.; Sept. 14 – Scottsdale Chaparral @ Brophy Prep, 4 p.m.; Sept. 17 –
Brophy-Xavier Invitational Diving Meet @ Brophy Prep, Time TBA; Sept. 18 –
Brophy-Xavier Swimming & Diving Invitational @ Brophy Prep, Time TBA; Sept.
23 – Mesa Mountain View @ Brophy Prep, 4 p.m.
Oct. 14 -- @
Chandler Hamilton, 4 p.m.; Oct. 21 – Phoenix Desert Vista @ Brophy Prep, 4 p.m.