State swimming and diving championships. The finals. All at one site. All the same day. And forgive the pun, but the competition is not watered down.

With state meets now consolidated into two for boys and girls,(down from five in recent years), the race for individual titles will be as keen as it's been in a long, long time.

All swimming and diving takes place at Kino Aquatics Center, located at 848 N. Horne Road  in Mesa. It begins Thursday with the Division I prelims. Diving starts at 11 a.m. and swimming at 1 p.m. Ditto the next day for Division II, diving at 11 a.m. and swimming at 1 p.m. The finals for both divisions are Saturday with diving starting at 11:45 a.m. and swimming at noon.

Two of the biggest draws are Desert Edge freestyler Tyler Messerschmidt, who will be shooting for a difficult-to-break state record in the 100 free and Desert Vista's Katie Olsen, the top breast-stroker in the state.

Here are the top seeds heading into Thursday and Friday's prelims for individual events for both divisions:

Division I boys

200 free: Brian Stevens, Brophy 1:43.79, 200 IM: Chris Webb, Brophy, 1:55.73. 50 free: Payton Sorenson, Mesa Mtn. View 21.09. 100 butterfly: Matthew Mozdzen, Chandler 51.28. 100 free: Jake Stoll, Mesquite 47.21. 500 free: Chris Webb, Brophy 4:38.67.100 back: Zach Bradley, Mtn. Pointe 54.01. 100 breast: Shane Essert, Brophy, Victor Hernandez, Perry 59.83.

Diving: Top 5 qualifers -- Scott Gosselin, Chandler; Josh Bidak, Horizon, Mike Bidak, Horizon; Manasseh Oso, Ironwood; Bryce Farabee, Highland.

 

Division II boys

200 free: Tyler Messerschmidt, Desert Edge 1:37.46. 200 IM: Jason Alentado, Douglas 2:03.23. 50 free: Alex Brouwer, Notre Dame 21.57. 100 butterfly: Chris Pickard, Arcadia 50.25. 100 free: Tyler Messerschmidt, Desert Edge 44.36. 500 free: Ben Brouwer, Notre Dame 4:50.42. 100 back: Alex Brouwer, Notre Dame 54.02. 100 breast: Thomas Wahlers, Sunrise Mountain 59.29.

Diving: Top 5 qualifers -- Hayden Sells, Arcadia; Brian Nebeker, Paradise Valley; Corey Moreno, Raymond Kellis, Tim Riehle, Peorial; John Webb, Phoenix Country Day.

Division I girls

200 free: Kat Simonovic, Mesa Mtn. View 1:51.94. 200 IM: Katie Olsen, Desert Vista 2:06.81. 50 free: Kelli Benjamin, Gilbert 23.78. 100 butterfly: Leticia Lelli, Chaparral 55.73. 100 free: Kelli Benjamin, Gilbert 51.77. 500 free: Megan Cox, Chaparral 5:03.60. 100 back: Leticia Lelli, Chaparral 56.90. 100 breast: Katie Olsen, Desert Vista 1:05.81.

Diving: Top 5 qualifers --  Chloe Hacker, Corona del Sol; Kyra Tatlow, Westwood; Maggie McClure, Cibola; Jordan Shealy, Rincon; Nicole Donahue, Highland.

Division II girls

200 free: Danielle Lee, Phoenix Country Day 1:50.58. 200 IM: Daniella Emami, Catalina Foothills 2:18.09. 50 free: Taryn Collura, Sunnyslope 24.65. 100 butterfly: Briana Jurries, Valley Christian 59.20. 100 free: Taryn Collura, Sunnyslope 53.36. 500 free: Leigh Anne Oliver, Sabino 5:07.25. 100 back: Alexis Daswick, Notre Dame and Daniella Lee, Phoenix Country Day 1:00.90. 100 breast: Leigh Anne Oliver, Sabino 1:01.83.

Diving: Top 5 qualifers -- Erica Johnson, Pusch Ridge; Rachel Hicks, Sunrise Mountain; Izzy Diamond, Catalina Foothills; Maddie Stern, Phoenix Country Day; Katie Dallmann, Cactus.