Thanks to Kerri-Ann Petty for contributing this report:
On Saturday, the Albuquerque Academy Chargers boys reclaimed their title after a four-year gap in victory at the 2015 NMAA State Championships. Coach Dave Barney’s 22nd title was led by Junior Anthony Kim, whose performances contributed to two new state records and four state titles. Kim would split a blistering 21.68 fly leg on the 200 Medley Relay to join teammates Jason Hou, Jordan Lee, and Scott Theiler in their overwhelming victory with a time of 1:35.79. Shortly thereafter, Kim would win the 200 Free in 1:40.65, improving his personal best by .51, however narrowly missing the record mark by .22 set in 2014 by Cibola’s John Magnus Holler. Finishing second in the 200 Free was Jacob Harlan of Cibola (1:43.22), third Michael Moore of Los Alamos (1:44.24).
Kim’s third swim of the day would prove sweet as he triple defended his state title in the 100 Fly, while lowering his own state record mark set the prior year. His time of 48.59, slightly off his time swam at Winter Juniors, lowered his previous record of 48.66 set last year. Runner up to him was Luke Shereston of NMMI (51.66) while third went to Jonathan Darnell of Artesia (52.92).
On his second record setting performance of the day, Kim would partner with Hou, Theiler, and Raine Min and smash the 200 Free Relay with a 1:26.51. Leading off the relay in 20.78, it would be the first time Kim dips under the 21-second mark and a good indication of the improvement he has focused on with his sprint freestyle. Second in the relay would be Cibola’s combination of Holler, Tameryn Huffman, Stephen Duckett, and Joshua Harlan.
All eyes would be on the pool when the 200 Free Relay took the blocks. It would be the only time in the competition the Kim and Holler would meet, leading off their respective teams. Holler, a premier sprinter and a Texas A&M commit, would touch the wall first with a 20.63 defending his personal 50 Free title from earlier in the meet. In his individual 50 Free race, Holler lit up the pool in record setting fashion with a 20.29, scorching the previous record of 20.67 set back in 2007. Second would be defending champion Hank Gullick of Eldorado (21.09) with Dean Cory of Hobbs taking third (21.25).
Later in the afternoon, Holler would have a second record setting performance in the 100 Free, lowering his own mark set the previous year by .12 to swim a 44.72 and achieving a personal best. Defending champion Gullick would again be second (46.53), with Academy’s Hou taking third (47.40). Holler’s final high school swim came with victory in the 400 Free Relay, joined again by Huffman, Duckett, and Jacob Harlan.
Outside of Holler and Kim, all other individual swimming event champions were first time winners. Sandia Prep’s Kevin Benavidez won the 200 IM in overwhelming fashion with a new personal best time of 1:53.95. Second was Ian Kingsolver of Sandia (1:59.44) with Volcano Vista’s William Geck picking up third (2:00.42). Kingsolver would be victorious in the 100 Breast (58.77), Wesley Hahn of West Mesa second (1:00.47), and third went to Lee of Academy (1:00.68). Clovis’ Keaton Ward dominated the 100 Back (51.86), Artesia’s Darnell was second with a 52.74, and Academy’s Ian Conley third (53.56).
Another year came with another great matchup on paper in the 500 Free. With the double defending state champion absent from competition, the race would be between Moore of Los Alamos, Cibola’s Jacob Harlan, and Lee Moffett of Sandia. Moore and Harlan would take out the race together in a swift 1:47 at the 200 before Moore would take control and never look back. His winning time of 4:40.19 is slightly faster than his personal best swam at sea level back in 2013. Second would go to Harlan (4:43.92) and third to Moffett (4:49.49).
In the diving competition, Isaac Morris of Valley defended his title with a point accrual of 545.10, second went to Rio Rancho’s versatile swimmer and diver Joshua Espinoza (433.50), and taking third Nathan Collins of Hobbs (413.85).
*Meet Note: Elevation in Albuquerque is 5,410 feet. Times listed above are not altitude adjusted. For sea level equivalents, 200 swims are recognized with a 1.2 second adjustment with the 500 receiving a 5 second adjustment.
Final Standings
1. Albuquerque Academy 339
2. Sandia 211
3. Cibola 202
4. Eldorado 188
5. Clovis 165
6. Los Alamos 136
7. NMMI 102
8. Sandia Prep 93
9. La Cueva 91.5
10. Rio Rancho 90
11. Albuquerque 84
12. St. Pius X 83.5
13. Volcano Vista 68
14. Hobbs 62
15. Farmington 52
16. Bosque School 43