In their first exhibition swim meet of the season the Sedona Swordfish got off the blocks in style with several first-place finishes against the Cottonwood Clippers, giving themselves the victory even though no team point totals were calculated.

“It was the first time the whole team swam together. We had a bit more talent out there than Cottonwood but the competition was there,” newly appointed Sedona Head Coach Brandon Hancock said.

At the Sedona Community Pool on Saturday, June 13, the Swordfish dominated the water over Cottonwood, recording 17 first-place finishes on the day.

There were, of course, a few swimmers on the Swordfish team who took multiple first-place finishes starting with 13-year-old Laura Clark who took the top prize in the 100-yard individual medley with a 1:17.63 time and was first in the 50-yard backstroke event with a 35.37 mark.

Seventeen-year-old Tyler Gaviigan earned 40 points for his team after taking first place in the 100-yard individual medley with a 1:01.69 time and first in the 50-yard butterfly event with a 27-flat time.

Other multiple first-place finishers for Sedona included 18-year-old Erik Svensson who was first in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 1:12.32 time and first in the 100-yard freestyle event with a 56.46 time.

Seventeen-year-old Saman-tha Syvertsen was also a multiple award winner with a first-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke event with a 1:16.18 time and a 1:03.81 time in the 100-yard freestyle event, good enough for first place.

The only Sedona swimmer to take home all three first-place medals in their events was 11-year-old Sierra Robinson.

Robinson, who set a personal best time in all three events, took first in the 50-yard breaststroke with a 44.48 time, was first in the 50-yard butterfly with a 45.69 time and took first in the 50-yard freestyle event with a 33.85 time.

Other first-place finishes included 14-year-old Alexander Mayer who recorded a 42.28 time in the 50-yard backstroke event and, of course, 16-year-old Christopher Millar who claimed first in the 100-yard backstroke event with a 1:05.72 time.

Eight-year-old Jake Brown turned in the first top finish of the day in the 25-yard butterfly with a 46.56 time.

Then came 9-year-old Mary Brown who took first place in the 50-yard backstroke event with a 51.64 time.

Eleven-year-old Benigno Guadarrama had an excellent time in the 50-yard butterfly event with a 49.06 time, taking first place, while 14-year-old teammate Olivia Luyckx finished first in the 50-yard freestyle with a 30.78 time.

Other standouts at the meet Saturday include 12-year-old Christopher Gibson who finished second in the 50-yard backstroke with a 41.22 time and second in the 50-yard freestyle event with a 33.68 time.

Seven-year-old Delaney Crawford took home second place in the 25-yard backstroke with a 27.81 time while 17-year-old teammate Jacob Leo was second in the 100-yard breaststroke with a 1:24.00 time.

Other second-place finishes include Kathleen Millar who finished second in the 50-yard backstroke event with a 37.63 time and was second in the 50-yard freestyle with a 34.61 time, while teammate Kendall Peterson was second in the 25-yard freestyle event with a 21.22 time.

“This is a great group of kids we have here and a great swim program to back them up. I’m glad to be here in the Valley; I love it here and hopefully we can continue the success,” Hancock said.

Hancock took the place of previous Sedona Head Coach Erin Estes who will now be the assistant coach.

Next up for the Swordfish will be the Payson in the Pines meet Saturday, June 20.

This is a meet for first-year swimmers and should begin by 8 a.m. that morning.

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