Thanks to Jason Schmeltzer for contributing the below story on the prelims of the Arizona High School State Championship meet.
At the prelims for the Arizona High School State Championship meet, the Morning Session saw a great start to the meet. Division II (Small Schools) began the day with some impressive performances
Some of the Highlights:
Girls
Senior Angel Van Hofwegen swam an Automatic All-American time of 23.41 for the top seed in the girls’ 50 free going into tomorrow’s finals. Senior Krista Duffield took the top seed in the 100 fly just missing AA consideration time with a 56.81 while senior Samantha Getzen is the second seed with a time of 56.97.
Boys
The morning session was highlighted by Senior Joe Starkweather of Notre Dame Prep, who came away with the top seed in both the 50 free (20.68) and the 100 fly (49.74).
University of Arizona commit JJ Osborn, who is the 2nd seed in both 50 free (20.71) and the 100 fly (50.21) will look to challenge Starkweather for a state title in both races in Saturday’s finals as well.
The afternoon session was for the larger schools of Division 1. This session has already brought out some of the fastest swims of the early season. One state record was broken with three more that could be going down in the finals.
Girls
Pinnacle High School Junior Samantha Fazio swam an Automatic AA cut leading the way as top seed in the 50 free (23.41) while the 2nd seed belongs to Junior Victoria Toris, the defending state champ and teammate of Fazio’s.
Desert Vista Junior Madeline Nichols was the top seed in the 100 fly with a 56.20. This could become the closest race of the finals where all four of the top seeds are just tenths of a second from each other.
Pinnacle HS took the top seed in the 200 free relay with a 1:36.78. They will be looking to make a good drop and go after the state record of 1:35.21 in finals.
Gilbert HS senior Ashley Grijalva looked great on her way to the top seed in the 100 Breast (1:03.60), an Auto AA cut.
Boys
The Day certainly belongs to Chaparral HS Freshman Ryan Hoffer who started out with a 19.55 top seed in the 50 free, a new state and National Age Group record, and one of the fastest high school swims in history (and the fastest ever by a high school freshman). He then took the top seed in the 100 fly (48.18) with ease and finished with a 43.87 lead off in the 4X100 free relay.
Chandler HS sophomore teammate Mark Jurek also had a great day. He will go into the finals as top seed in the 200 IM (1:53.03) and 2nd seed in the 100 fly (49.98).
The other AZ State Record to go down in Prelims was by Arcadia Junior Matt Anderson in the 100 Breast (55.94).
Finals will be held on Saturday at the Skyline Aquatic Center in Mesa, AZ. Full meet results are available on Meet Mobile.
My favorite team is Catalina Foothills which use to win the title when they didn’t have to go against the larger Phoenix area schools.
Not sure he can go faster in the 50 but look for 47 in the 100 fly and a new state record on the lead off of the 4×100 free.
19.55 for a freshman! Amazing time for Ryan Hoffer! Can he go faster in finals?
Michael Andrew must now respond in Texas today.