D-III State Swim-Dive Preview

October 30, 2018 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


 Phoenix Country Day's Quinn Murphy, who won D-III 100 free and 100 back last year as a freshman. (Phoenix Country Day photo)

 

Sabino's girls and Seton Catholic's boys were Division III team champions last year. Could there be new champs in 2018?

The answer arrives this weekend at Phoenix Country Day's Dady Aquatic Center where division schools gather for the state meet. Prelims are Friday Nov. 2 and finals take place Nov. 3.

Seton took on quite a few graduation losses, which seems to open up the field for boys among Seton, Saguaro, Phoenix Country Day and Veritas Prep. PCD won the 2016 team title with Seton finishing second. 

Sabino's girls shoot for a third consecutive team title in as many years of D-III competition, but others who may may have a say are Scottsdale Christian and Scottsdale Prep.

D-III Boys

Grant Nations, Sabino, Sr.; Tyler Barfield, Phoenix Country Day, Sr.; James Karam, Seton, Jr.; Lucas Olschansky, Phoenix Country Day, So.; Mason Kearley, Paradise Honors, Fr.; Maxwell Kleinman, Benjamin Franklin, Fr.; Devin Esser, Veritas Prep, So.; Denton Smith, Saguaro, So.; Joshua Ballum, Anthem Prep, Jr.; Henry Bentson, Saguaro, Fr.

Notes: Nations finished 1st in 100 breast and 2nd in 500 free last year and was 2nd in both events in 2016. Barfield was part of 1st place 200 medley relay, 2nd in the 100 back and 4th in 200 IM last year. In 2016 he was 2nd in 100 back and 4th in 200 IM. Karam was part of 1st place 400 free relay last year and in 2016 and part of 2nd place 200 medley relay last year. Olschansky was part of 1st place 200 medley relay and part of 2nd place 400 free relay. Smith placed 4th in in 200 free. Rodin was 1st in 100 fly. 3rd in 200 free, part of 1st place 200 medley relay and part of 2nd place 400 relay. He was 3rd in 100 fly in 2016. Esser was 3rd in 200 IM and 4th in 500 free last year. 

D-III Girls

Quinn Murphy, Phoenix Country Day, So.; Amanda Zajdzinski, Arete Prep, Jr.; Kate McBratney, American Leadership Queen Creek, Sr.; Skylar Dikeman, Sabino, Jr.; Caylah Jago, Scottsdale Christian, Jr.; Kaylin Farnum, Sabino, Sr.; Ruth Lucht, Seton, So.; Tatum Good, Scottsdale Prep, So.; Samantha Stein, Phoenix Country Day, (Diving), Sr.; Melanie Hass, Arizona College Prep, Sr.; Avery Spade, The Gregory School, Fr.; Taylor Bernosky, Scottsdale Prep, So.

NOTES: Murphy was 1st in 100 free and first in 100 back. McBratney was 1st in 100 breast, 200 free and part of 2nd place  in 200 free relay and 200 medley relay. Zajdzinski was 1st in 500 free last year and 2nd in 500 free and 3rd in 200 free in 2016. Dikeman was 1st in 50 free, 2nd in 100 back and part of 1sts in 200 medley and 400 free relays last year. She was also 3rd in 50 free and 100 back and part of 1sts in 200 medley relay and 400 free relay in 2016. Farnum was part of 1sts in 200 medley relay and 400 relay and 2nd in 100 free last year. She was also 1st in 100 back and part of 1sts in 200 medley and 400 free relays in 2016. Jago was 2nd in 100 fly last year. Good was part of 1st in 200 free relay and 4th in 50 free last year. Stein won diving last year and in 2016. Lucht was 3rd in 500 free and 4th in 200 free last year. Hass was 2nd in 200 free in 2016.