The 2020 Division III High School State Championship Swim Meet was held at the Phoenix Country Day Aquatic Center in Paradise Valley on Nov. 7.
The meet was held under strict COVID-19 protocols. Swimmers had to arrive at the pool in their swimsuits, maintain spacing on the deck and in the pool, and wear masks until stepping on the starting blocks for their race. No spectators were allowed at the meet. Instead of the normal Preliminaries and Finals sessions, the Championship was held as timed finals in the morning for the Boys. Girls had timed finals in the afternoon.
San Manuel Senior Evan Apuron finished 3rd in the 100 Yard Butterfly with a time of 51.59 and 3rd in the 100 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 59.04.
Apuron’s Breaststroke time is a new School Record – it was 0.91 seconds faster than the record Apuron set in 2018 (59.95).
The 32 points that Apuron earned were enough for the Miners to finish in 18th place in the team standings (out of 62 teams in Division III).
In 2019 Apuron set the 100 Yard Butterfly Division III State Record (50.71), it was beaten at the 2020 meet by William Bansberg from Notre Dame Prep with a time of 49.09.
There were no medal ceremonies due to the COVID-19 Protocols.
It was great to be able to hold the State Championship meet during the Pandemic. Even though the conditions were tough, swimmers rose to the occasion and took advantage of the opportunity.
“Evan swam the fastest Breaststroke of his High School career during his last race.” Coach Alex Gort proudly asserted, “The Breaststroke was an event that he struggled with this season, but put it all together at the end – some great perseverance to make it happen.”
Evan finishes his high school swimming years holding six individual school records: 100 Fly – 50:71; 100 Breast 59.04; 50 Free 21.41; 100 Free 48.30; 200 IM 1:59.40; and 200 Free 1:52.63. These are marks that future Miner swimmers will strive for.