Clovis boys swimmers take eight events at district meet

CARLSBAD — In their final chance to qualify for the state championship meet, several members of the Clovis High boys and girls swim team came through on Saturday at the District 3 championship meet in Carlsbad on Saturday.

"I can start off by saying mission accomplished," de Maio said. "We picked up every qualifying time plus some that we were looking for, so really excited about that. I guess the headline is though that the boys just crushed it; the boys were amazing across every event."

The Wildcats won eight out of 11 events on the boys side, leading to a first-place finish with 142 points, beating out Las Cruces (99), Hobbs (77), Carlsbad (68), Alamogordo (43), Artesia (34) and New Mexico Military Institute (32)

The Clovis girls finished second with 161 points, behind Las Cruces (190) and ahead of Hobbs (54), Alamogordo (38), Carlsbad (38) and Artesia (14).

"Of the six boys, four of them picked up a new qualifying time, so pretty exciting," de Maio said.

Cade Nordgren posted a pair of new state-qualifying times, finishing first in the 200 IM with a time of 2:06.51 and third in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:04.39.

"Cade just had a great day, really strong," de Maio said.

Barrett Bryant added a state-qualifying when he finished third in the 100 free with a time of 51.95 and posted his best time of the season in the 100 back which he won with a state-qualifying time of 56.31.

Alexis Aburto added state-qualifying times in the 50 free, finishing third with a time of 23.26, and in the 100 free, finishing second with a time of 51.33.

"He was really strong today," de Maio said.

Ethan Zamora added a state-qualifying time in the 100 butterfly, winning with a time of 57.99.

The other individual first-place finishes for the boys came from James Skuse in the 50 free with a state-qualifying time of 22.67 and the 100 breaststroke with a state-qualifying time of 1:03.38.

The boys 200 medley relay team of Bryant, Nordgren, Ethan Zamora and Case Smith won with a state-qualifying time of 1:46.74 and the boys 400 free relay team of Bryant, Ethan Zamora, Skuse and Aburto finished first with a state-qualifying time of 3:24.03.

The Clovis girls had a somewhat disappointing meet, posting just two first-place finishes.

"The girls were not as strong," de Maio said. "They had a couple of good events."

For the girls Olivia Reeb took home the only individual first-place finish, winning the 100 breaststroke with a state-qualifying time of 1:10.53, narrowly beating out her sister Katherine Reeb who finished second with a new state-qualifying time of 1:11.89.

"Really strong swim from both of them," de Maio said.

The girls 200 medley relay team of Bella Zamora, Olivia Reeb, Katie Kelley and Anya Hammond also finished first with a state-qualifying time of 1:54.90.

Other notable races for the girls included the 50 free where Katie Kelley finished second with a time of 25.97 and the 100 butterfly where Kelley finished second with a time of 1:02.23 and Nina Mead finished third with a time of 1:04.90, all new state-qualifying times.

The Wildcats overcame a week that featured a several swimmers missing practice time due to illness.

"James (Skuse) and Ethan (Zamora) both being sick came back and just swam great," de Maio said.

"Bella (Zamora) hasn't been in the water for five days, so she was a trooper. Got out there and swam and did OK."

Clovis is now ready to go for the state championship meet, scheduled for Feb. 18 in Albuquerque.

"The table is set for state. Now we taper, and we'll shave and we'll put on fast suits and I think they'll be very, very strong at the state championships," de Maio said.