Swimming Preview: Pair of state qualifiers back for Gila Ridge

Unlike most Gila Ridge athletic programs, the swim team has a year of experience under its belt - with a pair of state qualifiers to boot.

Now with the twice members, coach Rachael Eggers expects bigger and better things from the Hawks.

"We've got the numbers this year," Eggers said. "Our team has almost doubled in size. We've got some pretty strong swimmers we've picked up. ... I'm expecting a really good season. Or at least giving all the other teams a run for their money."

Of course, like the other Gila Ridge athletic programs, the swim team has no seniors because the school has no senior class.

"We're still building our program, so if we can win a couple meets..." Eggers said. "Our goal is if we can get a couple teams to state, that would be the ultimate season for us cause we are still pretty young."

The only two swimmers back from the pair of relay teams - the 200-yard freestyle and 200 medley - are sophomores Emily Reh and Katie Hogdin.

Hogdin will be joined by her sister Kayla, who swims the individual medley and the butterfly.

"Those two are pretty good rockstars together," Eggers said.

Eggers said she also expects big things out of Melanie Alameda and Heather Casares. Only one boy, Aaron Magana, returns to the Hawks.

Even with two new parts, Eggers said she expects another state trip this year.

"If they keep their work outs up, and stay motivated and everything, they should be able to make it."

KOFA

The Kings will enjoy the services of Katelyn Weddle for one more year.

Last year, Weddle was second in the 50 free and won the 100 breast at state. Of course, her greatest achievement may have been earning a tryout for the U.S. Olympic team this summer.

But outside of Weddle the team will be very young, said coach Amber Benz.

"We have quite a bit of freshman," Benz said, "so we have a good team coming up, too. We've got a good team this year, good numbers and a lot of new faces."

That's not to say there aren't any returners - nine of the 12 swimmers who went to state last year return this year.

Among the swimmers Benz expects a big season of are freestyler Jonathan Duran, Caitlyn Bedwell in the backstroke and diver Ryan Quesenberry.

YUMA HIGH

Coach DeeDee Baumgarner has been waiting for this year for a while.

Not only is Emily White, who went to state last year, now a senior - but Emily Heiber is finally a freshman.

Baumgarner has been watching Heiber for a few years, waiting for her to make it to high school. And the coach has a familiarity with Heiber's mother, Jenny - whom Baumgarner coached in the past on a club team.

"It's a hoot. It's pretty funny," Baumgarner said. "We've been waiting around a couple years for her to get here. You know how everything falls into place for a year? I have Emily White, she's a senior going out, but I have Emily Heiber, she's a freshman, and a bunch of strong junior girls. So this is going to be a strong year for us."

Two of those strong junior girls are Ashton Hobbs (100 free) and Mryiah Frabasilio (500 free), who each had top eight finishes at state last year.

Tommy Close and Alex Grogget are the two seniors who will anchor the boys' side, which has a "whole bunch of junior guys who have never come out," said Baumgarner. "They're going to turn a lot of heads this year."

CIBOLA

The 400-yard freestyle team that took eighth on the boys' side had just one senior last year - Jarron Boggs, Colin Stiffler and Jacob Kaba return.

Cibola coach Richard McClure did not return messages left by The Sun.