MHS swimmer reaches state final

Maricopa High School sophomore Connor Schrader debuted in the Arizona Interscholastic Association Division II State Swimming Championships by bettering his school record times in two events and qualifying for the finals in one.

In the preliminaries, Schrader swam the 100-yard backstroke in 57.9 to finish 13th and earn a spot in the final. He swam the 100-yard freestyle in 50.5 to finish 17th, one place out of making the finals.

In Fridays finals, he swam the 100 backstroke in 57.2, improving his school record again, winning the consolation heat and finishing ninth overall.

Schrader and junior Olivia Byers were the first MHS swimmers ever to qualify for the state championships. Byers was 33rd in the 50-yard freestyle and remained the first alternate.

The swim program was the only MHS sport to qualify athletes for state competition this fall. Coach Laura Logan called it “a great finish to year two of the program.”