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Darien Apuron, Soph. 2nd 200 I.M. Photo courtesy Apuron photography
Twenty-five High School Swim teams competed at the Southern Arizona Regional Qualifier Swim Meet in Oro Valley on Oct. 28-29. It was the final opportunity for the teams from Southern Arizona to achieve qualifying times for the State Championship Meet this weekend. San Manuel High School had one of the smaller teams at the meet (and represented one of the smaller schools) but they packed a powerful punch.
The preliminary session was held on Friday. The goal in prelims is to advance to the finals, and for the most part that’s just what the Miners did. With 25 teams at the meet achieving a top 8 or top 16 finish is great accomplishment. Miners earned their way into 4 Championship Finals (Top 8) and 6 Consolation Finals (places 9-16). In what was a tough situation for the Miner Relays were missing one of their best male swimmers. Sophomore Daniel Garcia, stepped up and swam a leg in both boys freestyle relays (200 and 400) in hopes of helping the relays get into the finals. Daniel rose to the occasion and swam personal best times to allow both relays to slip into the consolation finals in 15th and 16th places.
During Finals on Saturday, the Miners continues to show their stuff. Sophomore Darien Apuron swam a personal best time of 2:24.06 in Championship Finals of the 200 Individual Medley to finish 2nd overall to get things going for the Miners.
Colbey Stratton, Sr. 7th place 100 Fly. Photo courtesy Apuron photography
Moments later, Senior Colbey Stratton finished 3rd in the Consolation Finals heat of the 50 Freestyle to finish 11th place overall. Colbey’s time of 23.79 was a new school record.
Gianna Sweeney, Soph. 2nd 100 Breast. Photo courtesy Apuron photography
Next in the Girls 50 Freestyle, Sophomore Gianna Sweeney lead the Consolation Final heat from start to finish, finishing 9th place overall. Gianna’s time of 26.38 was also a new school record.
Colbey Stratton raced against a very tough field in the Boys 100 Butterfly Championship Finals to finish in 7th place.
Darien Apuron swam a 1:03.85 in the Girls 100 Butterfly Championship Finals to set a new school record and finish 3rd overall.
The Miners Boys 200 Freestyle Relay team of Colbey Stratton, Michael Garcia, Michael Primero-Predgo, and Robert Sweeney swam a season best time of 1:41.81 to place 14th.
The Girls 200 Freestyle Relay team of Gianna Sweeney, Raya Woods, Jasmine Smith and Darien Apuron swam a time of 2:00.60, a seasons best, to finish in 14th place.
In the Girls 100 Breaststroke, Gianna Sweeney finished in 2nd place in the Championship Finals with a new school record time of 1:12.56.
The 400 Freestyle Relay is the final event at high school swim meets, and has been the pride of the Miners Swim Team. Both the Boys and Girls Teams won the Consolation Finals, finishing 9th overall. Both relays swam season best times; 3:47.12 for the Boys, and 4:28.17 for the Girls. On the Girls Relay, every swimmer swam a personal best time on her leg of the relay.
With four new school records, and some great individual and relay swims, the Miners look ready to compete in the Division III State Championship Meet on Nov. 5. The fastest 24 swimmers in Division III will compete in individual events. Four Miner swimmers are ranked in the top 24 and will compete in individual events: Darien Apuron (100 Fly, 100 Back), Gianna Sweeney (50 Free, 100 Breast), Colbey Stratton (50 Free, 100 Fly), and Robert Sweeney (200 Free, 500 Free). The fastest 16 relay teams qualify and the Miners Boys 400 Freestyle Relay team is ranked in the top 16 and will compete.
The Division III State Swim Championship will be held at Phoenix Country Day Aquatic Center in Paradise Valley on Saturday, Nov. 5. Go Miners!
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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