Clovis girls swimmers fourth in tight Lubbock field

LUBBOCK — Clovis’ swim team is about progressing, about driving forward through the season, improving times and preparing for district and state competition.

The Wildcats moved in that direction this past weekend in the Lubbock Fall Invitational, a meet that Clovis head coach Gordy Westerburg said was similar to how the state championships will be run in February. It was done prelims/finals style, where everyone swam on the first day and then the fastest 24 earned their way back to swim again on Saturday.

Highlighting Clovis’ performance were the girls, who left the meet with 12 state-qualifying times. The Lady Wildcats took fourth place out of 20 teams, just one point from third place and two points from second.

More specifically was the 500 freestyle, where the Lady ’Cats especially shined.

Leading the way was Shyann Kissinger, whose 5:15.65 was a new meet record and a state-qualifying time.

Katie Reeb was third in the 500 free with a state-qualifying time of 5:25.56.

Tabitha May also notched a top-eight finish for the Lady ’Cats, placing eighth with a time of 5:52.69.

Rounding out the Clovis girls’ 500 free numbers were: Kiara Morgan (16th, 6:21.86) and Chara May (22nd, 6:39.42).

“I was incredibly pleased with our girls in the 500 freestyle,” Westerberg said, “when we placed three in the top eight, another in the top 16 and one more in the top 24.”

In the boys 500 free, Kriday Andiboina was 21st (6:11.68) and Porter Kidd was 23rd (6:13.46).

Bella Zamora also stood out Saturday, with her own new meet record and state-qualifying time (:53.76) in the 100 freestyle.

Clayton Hogan was 21st in the boys 100 free (:56.82), William Longhenry 24th (:57.83).

Zamora was second in the girls 100 breaststroke with a state-qualifying time of 1:07.77. Westerberg says Zamora came in under the old meet record, “but doesn’t get credit because she didn’t win the event.”

Chara May was 12th in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:25.04.

Kissinger was second in the 200 freestyle with a state-qualifying time of 2:00.39.

Katie Reeb joined Kissinger in the top eight, with her state-qualifying time of 2:04.24, good enough for eighth place.

May was 11th (2:11.75) on the girls side of the 200 free, David Reeb 23rd on the boys side (2:10.80).

In the 200 medley relay, the Clovis team of Hannah Luscombe, Zamora, Kissinger and Nina Mead posted a state-qualifying time of 1:56.94, good for fourth place.

Morgan, May, Lexi Spears and Jakoda Culley were 11th with a time of 2:15.31. Kidd, Thomas Palla, David Reeb and Hogan placed 15th in the boys 200 medley relay in 1:59.01.

In the 200 individual medley, Luscombe earned fourth place with her state-qualifying time of 2:18.22.

Right behind her in fifth was Amber Westerberg and her state-qualifying time of 2:23.76.

Culley was 15th for the girls at 2:42.88, Palla 15th for the boys at 2:24.04.

In the 100 butterfly, Amber Westerberg was fourth with a time of 1:06.57.

Mead was not far behind her, placing sixth with a time of 1:08.14. David Reeb was 14th in the boys 100 fly at 1:01.85.

Mead was 14th (:27.67) in the 50 freestyle, and she was part of the sixth-place 200 free relay team that also included Katie Reeb, May and Westerberg (1:52.09).

Longhenry, Hogan, Andiboina and Kidd placed 21st (1:49.96) in the boys 200 free relay.

Luscombe was fifth in the 100 backstroke with her state-qualifying time of 1:03.57. Palla was 15th in the boys 100 back in 1:04.91.

And in the 400 freestyle relay, Kissinger, Zamora, Luscombe and Katie Reeb were second with their state-qualifying time of 3:44.42.

May, Westerberg, Morgan and Culley were 11th (4:12.83) on the girls side, Longhenry, Hogan, David Reeb and Palla 11th on the boys side (3:50.27).

The Clovis boys finished 14th as a team.

Both Wildcat teams are back at it this Saturday in the Hobbs Invitational.