There was wind, there was rain, there was hail and there was lightning. There were delays and close calls. Some say at least 24 lightning strikes within a few minutes inside the safety zone of the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center on the University of Arizona campus on Saturday – enough to clear the deck, and if the threat of a bolt hitting the stands didn’t disperse the crowd, the torrential rain did. Twice.

Even with all that, members of the Arizona staff, Arizona swim athletes, the Ford Aquatics staff, swim officials and all the volunteers provided by Salpointe and Tanque Verde somehow managed to hold a meet together, feed a few dozen, hand out awards and complete and score every event. It was impressive to witness.

The high school athletes in the pool were also impressive with the Catalina Foothills boys taking first place and the Salpointe girls winning on their end. All the athletes, win or close to winning, were there to earn a qualifying mark for state with the prelims sets to start on Nov. 7 for the three divisions of competition.

 

Individual champions for the girls include Catalina Foothills standout Isabella Geiger (200 Free and 500 Free); Canyon del Oro standout Naomi Weibel (200 IM and 100 Fly); Salpointe standout Carissa Palomarez (50 Free); Mesa Mountain View standout Holland Jesclard (100 Free); Mesa Mountain View standout Emilie Griffin (100 Back) and Salpointe standout Hollan Nye (100 Breast).

For the boys, Mesa Mountain View standout Gavin Willyerd (200 Free and 500 Free); Tanque Verde standout Wade Olsson (200 IM and 100 Breast); Mesa Mountain View standout Lewis Turley (50 Free); Gila Ridge standout Brayden Cox (100 Fly and 100 Back) and Mesa Mountain View standout Joey Caliendo (100 Free).

Seton Catholic will host the FORKTOBERFEST held on the ASU campus on Oct. 11 and the Southern Arizona Regional Qualifier will be hosted by Canyon del Oro on Oct. 24.

INTERVIEWS