Brophy, Desert Mountain, Xavier Win Titles at Arizona State 5A High School Championships

By Jason Marsteller

TEMPE, Arizona, November 14. DESERT Mountain dominated Division II action, while Brophy High and Xavier High split the boys and girls Division I titles, respectively at the Arizona State 5A High School Championships. The meet featured one state standard falling, with plenty of other fast times on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., from Nov. 3-4.

Division I
It came down to two teams in the 5A Division I championships as Brophy High (boys) and Xavier High (girls) dominated each of their respective meets.

In the boys' meet, Brophy won with 556 points, while Mountain View High placed second with 209 points and Dobson High took third with 191 points. Desert Vista High came in fourth with 187 points, while Horizon High rounded out the top five with 153 points.

In girls' action, Xavier topped everyone with 507 points, while Mountain View High finished second with 295 points and Desert Vista High grabbed third with 216 points. Mountain Point (155) and Red Mountain High (125) closed out the top five.

Records proved to be scarce in this meet as Mountain View High senior Aleesha Miller provided the only record by eclipsing the 50-yard free standard twice. First, she posted a 23-flat during prelims to beat the previous standard of 23.03 set by North Canyon High's Cait Coneally in 2001, before touching in 22.93 in finals for the title. Miller also won the 100 free in 50.30.

Three other swimmers recorded doubles. For the boys, Horizon High senior Buddy Turner nearly took down a pair of state records. First, he won the 50 free in 20.44, just .14 seconds off Gary Hall Jr.'s 1994 state standard of 20.30. He then provided the bookend of the freestyle stroke with a win in the 500 free. Turner stopped the clock in 4:29.09, just .6 seconds off the 2001 standard record of 4:28.59 set by Tyler DeBerry of Sabino.

Two other girls picked up a pair of titles. Desert Vista High senior Nicole McAndrew stopped the clock first in 1:50.74 in the 200 free before winning the 500 free in 4:53.96. Meanwhile, Mesquite High sophomore Christine Olson laid claim to the 200 IM in 2:03.73 and the 100 breast in 1:02.91. She narrowly missed her 5A state mark of 1:02.82 set as a freshman last year in the 100 breast.

In diving, Corona del Sol High's David Phipps claimed the boys' title with 395.10 points on the one-meter, while Xavier's Marissa Johnson took home the girls' crown with 403.70 points.

Division II
Desert Mountain High swept the Division II titles. The team accumulated 356 points in the boys meet, while the girls amassed 484 points.

For the boys, Shadow Mountain High finished second with 281 points, while North High took third with 206 points. Sunrise Mountain High placed fourth with 173 points, while Boulder Creek High snared fifth with 162 points.

For the girls, Sandra Day O'Connor High took second with 212 points, while Ironwood High placed third with 191.5 points. North (173.5) and Centennial High (154) rounded out the top five.

Five swimmers finished the meet with individual-title deuces. In the boys' meet, Sunrise Mountain senior Craig Podgurski won the 200 free in 1:42.76 before winning the 100 fly in 50.85. His teammate, junior Marshall Dilworth, also won the 200 IM in 1:53.76 and the 100 breast in 59.05.

In the girls' meet, Desert Mountain junior Whitney Lopus took home the 200 free in 1:49.70 and the 100 fly in 56.90, while her teammate and classmate Emily Barton claimed the 200 IM in 2:04.14 and the 100 breast in 1:04.81. Ironwood freshman Skylar Wilson comprised the last of the fivesome with wins in the 50 free (25.18) and 100 free (54.86)

In diving, Desert Mountain's Caleb Percevecz captured the boys' one-meter title with an incredible 522.20 points, while Ironwood's Amber Weinberger took home the girls' one-meter with 358.55 points.

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