Maricopa swimmers qualify for regionals, hit personal bests

Over two weekends, Arizona Seals Swim Club participated in State Champs in senior and age-group divisions. Several swimmers hit their best marks yet.

In the Senior Open Champs in Mesa, Nolan Ford swam the 50 freestyle in 22.9, the 100 free in 51.4 and the 200 backstroke in 2:11.2, all personal bests for the Maricopa teen. The 200 backstroke time was an eight-second drop.

Connor Schrader also hit a personal best in the 200 back in 2:04.2, shedding almost six seconds. Schrader swam the 50 free in 23.3, the 100 free in 51.2, the 100 back in 57.9, the 200 individual medley in 2:09.8 and the 200 breast in 2:34.4.

“The month of February was an exceptional month of racing with our guys having tremendous drops in most all events,” coach Laura Logan said.

The relay team of Ford, Rafe Scoresby, Andy Varga and Schrader had its best times of the year in the 200 freestyle (1:34.6) and the 400 free (3:42.3).

In the Age Group State Champs in Oro Valley, Katelyn Owens qualified for the Southwest Age Group Regional by swimming the 100 breast in 1:13.5. She will also be swimming the 50 free and and 200 breast at that meet, which is in Clovis, California, next week.

Logan called Sidney Stolle’s 500 free in 5:18.2 “the swim of the meet” for the Seals as she placed 10th overall and qualified for the regional. Stolle was eighth in the 100 free in 56.7. She swam the 50 free in 26.0, the 200 free in 2:04.9 and the 100 back in 1:04.9. Stille will also compete in Clovis in the 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 500 free, 1000 free, 1650 free and 100 breast.

Luis Sanchez-Quiroz was a first-time qualifier at the State Champs, swimming the 50 free in 30.2.

The relay teams of Stolle, Owens, Julie Baltosser and Kenzie Fair qualified for the state meet in the 200 free, 400 free, 200 medley and 400 medley. They posted their best times of the season.