CHS swimmers third overall in Andrews meet

ANDREWS, Texas — Freshman Julia Spears for the girls and sophomore Porter Kidd for the boys won individual events over the weekend as Clovis High’s swim teams combined for a third-place overall finish in the Andrews Invitational.

A total of 17 schools competed, all having boys and girls squads except two. The Wildcats were second in boys competition with 466 points, trailing only El Paso High (774), while the Lady Wildcats finished fourth at 426, behind El Paso High (686), Andrews (648) and Monahans (449).

Their combined total of 892 points left them trailing only El Paso High (1,460) and Andrews (1,104), with Monahans fourth (656).

Spears won the girls 200 individual medley with a time of 2 minutes, 24.19 seconds, while Kidd led a 1-4-7-8 showing in the boys 500 freestyle, coming in at 5:11.27.

“I was thrilled with the individual event winners this weekend,” Clovis co-coach Gordy Westerberg said. “It was a new state qualifying time for Julia, while Porter improved his state qualifying (mark).”

In addition to her win, Spears paced a 3-4-6-9 Clovis finish in the 500 freestyle (5:47.73), and swam a leg on both the 200 medley relay (second in 2:06.40) and 400 freestyle relay (fourth in 4:12.98). Kidd also swam on the boys’ 200 medley relay (fourth in 1:50.42) and 400 freestyle relay (third in 3:33.53), and led a 4-7-8 CHS showing in the 200 freestyle (1:54.66).

“Two swimmers that had excellent meets (for the boys) were Kriday Andiboina and Matthew Del Toro,” Westerberg said. “Also making huge improvements were Lily Russell (fourth in the girls 100 breaststoke) and Connor Dearinger (10th in the 100 freestyle).”

Other top CHS finishes in the meet were provided by sophomore David Reeb, second in the 100 butterfly, and juniors Thomas Palla, third in the 200 IM, and Clayton Hogan, fourth in the 100 backstroke, for the boys and freshman Brynn Longley, fourth in the 100 backstroke, for the girls.

Clovis squads will be in Hobbs on Saturday for the Eagle Invite.