With the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing well under way, and the American swim team doing better than ever, the Sedona Red Rock High swim team began their preseason practice routines looking for another good showing at the 1A-3A state championship meet like they had during the 2007 campaign.

For the boys, the Scorpions scored 316 points in last year’s 1A-3A state championship meet, good enough for a second place finish, falling only to Valley Christian High, who finished with 344 points and walked away with the title.

By Brian Bergner Jr.

Larson Newspapers

With the 2008 summer Olympics in Beijing well under way, and the American swim team doing better than ever, the Sedona Red Rock High swim team began their preseason practice routines looking for another good showing at the 1A-3A state championship meet like they had during the 2007 campaign.

For the boys, the Scorpions scored 316 points in last year’s 1A-3A state championship meet, good enough for a second place finish, falling only to Valley Christian High, who finished with 344 points and walked away with the title.

The girls had a spectacular showing as well, finishing fifth overall with 240 points scored.

Phoenix Christian High had no problem taking the title, scoring an impressive 344 points.

This season for the Scorpion boys team has regional championship written all over it, and maybe even a state title.

“I believe we are good enough to challenge for the state title this season,” Sedona Head Coach Marc Kincaid said.

Top returners

Kincaid has most of his Scorpion swim team coming back for another year of greatness after last years pivotal success.

A few 1A-3A state individual champions in Evan Decker, Chris Millar and Seth Syvertsen return to defend their state titles.

Decker won the 200-yard freestyle swim with an impressive 1:54.20 time. What might have been most impressive was that Decker was a freshman beating out seniors in the 200-yard swim.

Decker also claimed the 500-yard freestyle swim title with a 5:12.25 time, beating out a few seniors on his way just as he did in the 200-yard event.

Millar did his best work of the season in the state championship meet recording a first place finish and a state title in the 100-yard backstroke with a 1:04.89 time, a personal best.

Millar also finished fifth in the 100-yard freestyle event with a 55.40 time, scoring valuable points for his team.

Syvertsen claimed his state title in the 200-yard individual medley event with a 2:11.44 time.

In the relays, Millar, Syvertsen, Josh Gage and Eric Svensson finished second in the 200-yard medley with a 1:49.85 time, but the 200-yard freestyle relay was where the title came.

Syvertsen, Svensson, Decker and Gage teamed up to win the title with an impressive 1:34.95 time.

For the girls, top returners include Samantha Juda, Sam Syvertsen and Lucy Shanks.

All three did quite well for the Scorpions last season and will look to the same once again this year.

Top newcomers

In the biggest team Kincaid has ever had here at Sedona, a few new faces showed up in their swim gear ready to compete for the Scorpions in 2008.

For the girls, Alyssa Millar and Olivia Luyckx hope to replace stud swimmers Rachel Mendelsohn and Abby Kappel, while soccer player Brianna Binder and softball player Angelica Mlynarczyk have joined in on the fun.

A young man named Tygue Brown, a junior transfer from Idaho, has joined the squad looking to show what he’s made of, and only add help to the already good boys team.

The schedule

There are plenty of fun meets to chose from in which the Scorpions look to dominate this season, but the 1A-3A state championship meet on Friday, Oct. 17, and Saturday, Oct. 18 is all that matters to Sedona.

Every meet leading up to that time is practice for what really matters, and that is placing high or even winning a state title both on the girls’ and the boys’ side.

“This is the biggest team I’ve ever had, and I look forward to helping these kids achieve their goals,” Kincaid said.

Final word

Look for the Scorpions to dominate on the boys’ side of the pool against any opponent they face this season.

The girls will continue to improve, but don’t be surprised if they pull out many victories themselves, in effort toward a good showing at state in October.

Brian Bergner Jr. can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 131, or e-mail bbergner@larsonnewspapers.com.