Jacob Franklin
ASU Student Journalist

Swim: Brophy, Xavier come away with wins at their invite

September 25, 2016 by Jacob Franklin, Arizona State University


Brophy College Prep and Xavier College Prep High School both dominated Saturday in the pool during the 28th annual Brophy Prep/Xavier Prep Invitational at Brophy Aquatic Center.

The Brophy boy’s swim team took first place at the invitational, totaling 389 points over the course of the day. 

Scottsdale Chaparral High School and Mesa Mountain View High School finished second and third with 307 and 170.50 points, respectively.

The Broncos only grabbed two of the 11 events, courtesy of junior Michael Niezgodzki (200 free) and junior Patrick Schramm (100 breast), but they earned the No. 1 overall position because they consistently finished in the top-10.

Brophy set many personal records, according to head coach Pat O’Neill.

“We’ve had personal bests from about 85 percent of our swim so far,” O’Neill said. “It has been fun to watch these kids because they’re pushing through some pretty tired arms and legs right now.”

Chaparral stayed within 100 points of Brophy largely because of Ryan Hoffer. 

Hoffer impressed many with his time (19.71) in the 50-yard freestyle, breaking a meet record he set in 2013.

Besides his first place finish in the 50-free, Hoffer helped Chaparral also take first in the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.

“He (Hoffer) is such a good role model,” O’Neill said. “Competing against him is tough, but my guys get up for it. We like racing against Ryan Hoffer.” 

Although the standings were finalized before the 400-yard freestyle relay, the final event for the men’s meet, it still was the most entertaining race of the day. Chaparral's relay team just held off Brophy by a margin of .34 seconds. 

On the girls’ side of the pool, the results were a little closer, but Xavier still won by a comfortable margin. Chandler High School and Chaparral High School came in second and third place, accumulating 212 and 193 points, respectively.

Leading the way for Xavier were juniors Mary Roediger and Kaitlyn McCoy.

“We’ve got some great individual races,” Xavier head coach Maureen Rankin said. “We had a great race by McCoy in the 200 IM (individual medley). We had a great race in the 50 free by Roediger. Katie (McCoy) just won the 100 backstroke again.”

During the 11 events for the girls, Xavier walked away with four wins, including two relays (200-yard freestyle and 200-yard medley) in which Roediger participated in.

McCoy swam in one of the relay events. Brophy and Xavier have now each captured two meets this season so far.