The Millennium boys were in disbelief when they heard who won:

Millennium.

After the initial shock quickly wore off, the celebrating ensued. The Tigers (336.50 points) upset defending champ Desert Mountain (329) in the Division II swim and dive championships at Skyline Aquatic Center.

But Desert Mountain’s girls (389.50 points) defended their crown to run their state title win streak to three.

The swim portion of the D-II state meet was held Saturday, but Millennium actually clinched the title the day prior. The points its divers scored Friday ultimately allowed the Tigers to claim their first first place trophy.

“Shocked,” said Millennium coach David Laudati about the final results. “But it’s not about me. It’s about the kids. They worked really hard all year.”

Laudati also garnered Coach of the Year honors in D-II, an award that also caught the second-year coach by surprise.

Senior Burton Alexander (17 points), junior Kaden Brown (5 points) and senior Harold Emeofa (2 points) were the diving heroes for Laudati and his program. Alexander is preparing to sign with Grand Canyon University.

As for Male Swimmer of the Year D-II honors, that went to Desert Mountain’s Mathew Iverson.

The senior set a 100-yard back facility record (50.05), earning All-American Consideration. He also won the 200 yard IM (1:51.68) and 400 yard free relay (3:09.25) and helped Desert Mountain win the 200-yard medley relay (1:35.97).

Desert Mountain also received Female Coach (Crystal Strimple) and Swimmer (Gabrielle Primiano) of the Year honors. Primiano won the 200-yard IM (2:05.69) and 100-yard breast (1:04.43) and helped her team win the 200-yard medley relay (1:45.34) and 400-yard free relay (3:33.26).

Two-time defending champ Desert Mountain defended its D-II crown Saturday. (Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365)

“The girls did fantastic,” Strimple said. “They surprised us in a few of the races. They stepped up and were happy. They were loose, and that’s what we wanted.”

 

Top-10 Girls results

1. Desert Mountain 389.50

2. Campo Verde 358

3. Catalina Foothills 244

4. Verrado 228

5. Canyon del Oro 168

6. Millennium 144

7. Saguaro 130

8. McClintock 88

9. Cactus Shadows 79

10. Ironwood Ridge 78

 

Top-10 Boys

1. Millennium 336.50

2. Desert Mountain 329

3. Canyon del Oro 220

4. Verrado 168

5. McClintock 165

6. Cactus Shadows 163

7. Catalina Foothills 139

8. Cienega 95.50

9. Campo Verde 94

10. Thunderbird 77

 

(From left to right) Male Coach and Swimmer of the Year, Millennium 's David Laudati and Desert Mountain’s Mathew Iverson, and female Swimmer and Coach of the Year, Desert Mountain's Gabrielle Primiano  and Desert Mountain's Crystal Strimple. (Photo by Jose Garcia/azpreps365)