Gough, Lines, Kaba place at state

Heather LaVin was already happy before her two swimmers hit the pool Saturday.
Last year, her Gila Ridge swim team had no one make it out of the first day of the AIA Division I Swim and Dive Championships. This year both Emily Gough and Weston Lines made the finals.
Gough took 10th in the girls’ 200-yard freestyle (1:56.22) and Lines 12th in the 100 butterfly (53.81) Saturday in Phoenix.
Cibola’s Jesse Kaba was the third swimmer from Yuma County, taking 12th in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.90).
Gough took off about half a second from her qualifying time Friday, while Lines added about .7 to his.
“He dropped a little bit but he did well,” LaVin said. “He was 12th overall so that’s not bad. Just for the fact that he and Emily both were able to make it to the finals. Last year we had none in the finals. It was a better year, a better showing for Gila Ridge than last year. Plus he automatically qualified in two events, so for him it was a great senior year.”
While Lines is getting done, the sophomore Gough is just getting started.
“She kept her time up and did real well,” Lavin said. “She was really excited.”
Cibola coach Richard McClure said it was a meaningful meet for Kaba, who he said decided not to pursue swimming at the next level.
“I think she’s satisfied,” McClure said. “She decided she didn’t want to pursue swimming beyond this point, and that’s a big decision for a kid. It makes it challenging. But she’s happy and ready to move on.”