In their last chance to qualify for upcoming spring regional and state championship meets at the Lost Dutchman Meet in Chandler, four Sedona Swim Team members stood out from over 1,200 swimmers Monday, Feb. 16.

That was the pool from which Mingus Union High School junior Caleb Furey made the finals in the 50-yard breaststroke to lead three other Sedona Swordfish qualifiers for the three-day short course regional swimming competition, scheduled to begin at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, at the Scottsdale Aquatic Center.  

“Places aren’t really accurate due to … the size — almost quadruple the size of high school slates,” said A. Jay Bronson, Swordfish head coach. “It’s about personal bests, which every swimmer had at this meet in almost every event.”

While 12-year-old Jaxon Oles made the cut for regionals in four more events, perhaps the best personal record came from 11-year-old local swimmer Aiden Beck, whose time in the 100-yard butterfly dropped almost 40 seconds, from 2:15 down to 1:37 — the biggest time drop of any Swordfish swimmer.

“For club, we look at these kids improving moreso than team rankings,” Bronson said. “I’m incredibly proud of them and every swimmer kicked butt.”

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, Feb. 18, issue of the Sedona Red Rock News.