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Gianna Sweeney competes in the butterfly. Photo by Elizabeth Gonzalez.
After several weeks of practices, the Miner Swim Team opened the season at home against Palo Verde High School on Aug. 31. Both Miners Girls and Boys teams won. The girls won by a score of 84 to 54, winning 10 out of the 11 races contested. With only four boys and only one entry per race, the boys had to make every race count. Fortunately, they finished first in 9 races and won the meet by a score of 61 to 49.
The girls relay team of Junior Darien Apuron, Freshman Star Chavez, Junior Gianna Sweeney, and Senior Raya Woods started things off with a win in the Medley Relay. Star Chavez went on to win the 200 Freestyle and 100 Breaststroke. Darien Apuron won the 200 IM and 400 Freestyle. Gianna Sweeney won the 50 Free and 100 Butterfly. Raya Woods went on to win the 100 Freestyle. The Miner relay team of Sweeney, Chavez, Woods, and Apuron won the 200 Freestyle Relay. The 400 Freestyle relay team of Sophomore BaiLee Hill, Junior Jasmine Smith, Freshman Aubrey Bridges, and Junior Bonnie Bridges won the final event of the meet.
Evan Apuron competes in the butterfly. Photo by Elizabeth Gonzalez.
The boys team also started things off by winning the Medley Relay. Junior Michael Primero-Predgo, Freshman Jayden Smith, Freshman Evan Apuron, and Junior Daniel Garcia teamed up to win the opening event for the Boys. Michael Primero-Predgo went on to win the 200 Freestyle and 100 Freestyle. Evan Apuron won the 200 IM and 100 Breaststroke. Jayden Smith won the 100 Butterfly and 100 Backstroke. Daniel Garcia won the 400 Freestyle. The same four boys also won the 200 Freestyle relay. Since the boys team only has four swimmers, they were unable to put together a 400 Freestyle Relay.
Head Coach Alex Gort was pleased with the opening meet. “It was great to see this team compete. We have been practicing seven times a week along with weight training and everyone is a little run down and sore. The times are very good for this time of the season,” he said.
Five Freshmen had their first taste of high school competition and they all did great. The Freshman Five are Evan Apuron, Jayden Smith, Aubrey Bridges, Star Chavez, and Alyssa Riekofski. They are already making a big impact on this team.
Star Chavez was named Dynamite of the Week by the team Captains. Star was a part of two winning relays and swam some very fast times to win both her individual events. In her first high school meet she has shown that the future is bright for Miner Swimming.
Miners host Arizona College Preparatory School at the San Manuel Pool on Thursday (9/7) at 4 p.m.
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