Centennial won the Division II state championship in 2014 and the D-I championship last year and, thanks to a decisive 56-21 win over top-seeded Cienega in the 5A semifinal round on Friday night, the Coyotes will be going for their third championship in a row.
Well, the Dust Devils are now 11-0 and headed for the 2A semifinals for the first time since 1990 after defeating Scottsdale Christian 62-21 on Saturday night. Coincidentally, 1990 was the last of a string of seven state championships for the program that sent four players to the NFL in its heyday - not bad for a town with a population nearing 15,000.
This year, fourth-seeded Salpointe (10-2) is not just a good team but a great team because only a great team could beat No. 5 Marcos de Niza the way it did on Thursday night in the quarterfinal round of the 4A playoffs. The Lancers won 48-6 against a team that averaged over 300 yards passing and over 37 points a game. Remarkable.
No. 6 Salpointe beat No. 4 Greenway, 3-1 (25-23, 20-25, 25-21, 25-16) Wednesday night to win the 4A state championship held at Mountain Pointe High School in Phoenix. As noted here first, the win breaks a 23-year drought from Southern Arizona in the “Big School” category.
Competition in Division III for Swim and Dive has not been held in Arizona since 2009. Swimmers from 53 teams are now eligible to compete in the reboot of this division.
Sedona Red Rock won the former 1A/2A/3A championships in 2008 and 2009 and the Scorpions took runner-up to Valley Christian in 2007. A champion hasn’t been crowned in seven years so almost anything can happen.
The Sabino girls took fourth place in Division II last year and the Sabercats will benefit from a D-III placement this fall. Sixth place finisher Seton Classic also moves down as do ninth place Veritas Prep and 11th place Scottsdale Christian.
Let’s take a brief look at some of the top swimmers in D-III:
Phoenix Country Day senior Lara Gemar has the best time this fall in the 50 Free (24.75). She took third place in the 200 Individual Medley last year and third in the 100 Breast.
American Leadership Academy sophomore Katie McBratney controls the 200 IM with a time of 2:11.04 and the 200 Free with a time of 1:56.12. She is also tops in the 100 Free with a time of 53.03.
Veritas Prep senior Katie Higgins has a state-best time in the 100 Fly at 56.76. Higgins won the D-II state championship in the 100 Fly last year. She shared the championship with former Sabino standout Taylor Nations. Higgins also took fourth in the 100 Back.
Higgins also controls the 100 Back with a time of 1:00.97.
Coolidge senior Morgan Tamisiea has a time of 5.08:85 in the 500 Free.
America Leadership freshman Sadie Edwards is tops with a time 1:06.58 in the 100 Breast.
On the boy’s side, Seton Catholic junior Archie Spindler is best in the 200 Free with a time of 1.44:27 and the 500 Free (4:41.27).
Tempe Prep senior David Hudson has the best time in the 200 IM at 1.59:02 and the 100 Fly (50.61).
Tempe Prep senior Jeffrey Snoddy has a time of 21.82 in the 50 Free and 59.79 in the 100 Breast.
Tanque Verde senior Joe Breinholt has the best time in the 100 Free (47.98).
Pusch Ridge junior Will Newman has a time of 55.03 in the 100 Back
The Phoenix Country Day boys took fourth place in D-II last year while Gilbert Classical took sixth. Tempe Prep came in eighth place and Seton Catholic took ninth. These teams are now in D-III.
Salpointe outlasted Cactus 3-1 Wednesday night to advance to the quarterfinal round of the 4A Conference playoffs where the Lancers will travel to No. 3 Flagstaff for a shot at the semifinal round. Coincidentally, both teams made it to the Division II semifinals last year.
Marana Mountain View swept Williams Field 3-0 Thursday night in the 5A Conference Play-In Tournament to advance to the 5A State Tournament, set to get underway on Tuesday, Nov. 2. Ranked 15th going into the match, the Mountain Lions will most likely face one of the highest seeds in the first round.
Catalina Foothills put together the best round (+8, 296) of the Mesa City Championships on Saturday, Oct. 22 to win the trophy by one stroke over Red Mountain (602-603). Red Mountain led the field by six strokes after the first round on Friday.