West Valley Preps’ Surprise swimming/diving preview

Compiled by Richard Smith
West Valley Preps

The highschool girls and boys swimming and diving season started Sept. 2 at faculties throughout the state.

West Valley Preps and the Surprise Independent requested native highschool coaches about their groups.

Here are their responses:

Paradise Honors Panthers

Boys and ladies coach: Joe North (fifth yr at Paradise Honors)
Division: Division III (Boys completed fourth at Division III state meet, Girls completed sixth)
Who are your high returning swimmers? Boys: Austin Hargreaves (senior) defending state champion within the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle; Logan Bailey (junior) 2024 state championship finalist within the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle; Sethren Policarpo (senior) 2024 state finalist within the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle; Brady Pressnall (junior) 2024 state qualifier within the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke; Kai Harada (junior) state qualifier within the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Girls: Aubrielle Stevens (senior) defending state champion within the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle, Lili Garland (senior) defending state champion within the 100 butterfly and bronze medalist within the 200 freestyle; Claire Swesey (senior) state finalist within the 500 freestyle and multi-year qualifier in 100 fly/again; Kiera Nham (sophomore) state qualifier within the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke; Erin Holstein (senior) state qualifier within the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle.
Who are a number of the newcomers which will have an effect this yr? Boys: Colten Shaw (freshman) already achieved state provisional occasions within the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. Girls: Kelsey Motts (freshman) already achieved state provisional occasions within the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.

What is your staff’s finest attribute getting into this season? The help everybody has for one another.

What are your highlights to this point this season? And what are you trying ahead to the remainder of the yr? Our staff’s main goal is to proceed supporting each other and constructing upon our previous accomplishments. We goal to extend the variety of athletes certified in particular person occasions and assist our returning state swimmers enhance upon their earlier performances. Every swimmer is devoted to enhancing each day and discovering methods to cut back their occasions. We have a number of defending state champions who’re wanting to defend their titles with even sooner swims, whereas a number of state finalists want to safe increased positions than final yr and at last attain the rostrum. Additionally, we’ve state qualifiers aiming to make finals, swimmers looking for their first state look, and people merely seeking to enhance and contribute to our staff’s success at every meet.

Willow Canyon Wildcats

Girls coach: Victoria Wise (fourth yr)
Division: Division II
Who are your high returning swimmers? Boys: Gregory Virga (senior) Girls: Madison Leigh (junior) and Alice Baughman (junior).
What is your staff’s finest attribute getting into this season? We are a staff, at the same time as people. The means our staff encourages each other and helps one another all the time makes me so proud to proceed this staff and hopefully legacy right here within the West Valley.
What are your highlights to this point this season? And what are you trying ahead to the remainder of the yr? Our staff objective is to proceed rising and inspiring others and get a number of athletes to state in particular person races.