Verrado's Bender, Bilquist stand out at D-II swim-dive meet

November 4, 2012 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Verrado High could only manage a third-place in the Division II girls state swim and dive meet, but it took home a bunch of gold medals on Saturday at Skyline Aquatic Center at Skyline High School.

Junior Picabo Bender and sophomore Amy Bilquist won two individual titles apiece and assisted on two relay crowns to highlight the day's events. Bender picked up her first state individual titles winning the 200 free and 500 free. Bilquist won the 50 free for the second year in a row and the 100 back for the first time.

Two more girls won two events each. Two-event returning champ from last year -- Valley Christian's Brian Jurries -- repeated in the 100 breast and won for the first time in the 200 IM. Notre Dame Prep junior Samantha Getzen won the 100 fly and 100 free -- her first individual state triumphs. Notre Dame also snatched the diving title with Madeline Russell the winner with 415.25 points. Russell was fourth in the event in 2011. Campo Verde's Baylee Stipp was runner-up (379.65).

Like Xavier in the D-I girls team race, Salpointe's depth was too much for other teams to overcome. Salpointe won only the 200 medley relay. The Lancers finished with 246 points and unseated Arcadia as champs. Arcadia (221) and Verado (218) weren't far behind. Notre Dame was fourth (172) and Liberty fifth (146).

In the D-II boys competition, Arcadia turned the tables on Salpointe for the top team spot. Arcadia totaled 252 point to Salpointe's 221. Queen Creek (206.5), Notre Dame (187) and Sedona Red Rock (159) rounded out the top five.

Individual winners represented several schools usually not among the elite in swimming -- Cortez, Bourgade Catholic and Casa Grande. Cortez sophomore Max Montour, who won the 100 back last year, repeated and added the 200 IM to his championship list. Joining Montour as a double winner was Bourgade senior Jake Lambros (100 free and 200 free). Casa Grande   senior Steven Koppel won the 100 fly. The diving title went to last year's runner-up -- Queen Creek's Sheldon Solomon. Solomon's score was 457 -- 38 points better than runner-up Brian Allen of Flagstaff.

Arcadia won two individual crowns and the 400 free relay. Its individual winners were freshman Antonio Ramirez taking the 500 free and sophomore Matt Anderson capturing the 100 breast. Notre Dame junior Joseph Starkweather was the 50 free champ and swam legs of the winning 200 medley- and 200 free-relay teams.

 

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