Ashanti Thompson is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Deer Valley for AZPreps365.com

GLENDALE --  Deer Valley swimmers dominated the dual meet hosted on Thursday, beating Valley Vista 195-96. The boys’ swimmers totaled 111-56 points, and the girls finished 84-40. 

Despite the score, points weren't the only thing on the Skyhawks’ minds. 

“I have strong swimmers all around, but culture is the number one thing I want from this team.” Deer Valley coach Shelley Currier said. “We work on becoming good people and good athletes.” 

After every event, the Skyhawks’ cheers could be heard in every direction, whether that was to cheer on their teammates racing, or the Valley Vista Monsoons that were still pushing to finish. 

 “Everyone on our team we think of as one big family,” Carson Garcia, a sophomore and four-event winner, said. “Everyone is super close and are always talking and joking. That pushes people to get out and be more outgoing towards the other team, too.”

Garcia swam in the 200 medley, 500 free, 200 free relay and 100 breast. In his 500 free race, Garcia swam a 5:30:53, almost two minutes ahead of his Monsoon opponent at 7:15:22. His personal best remains at 5:28:70, but he doesn’t plan on letting it stay there much longer.

 “ I’m going to beat it on Saturday. We have our invite,” Garcia said.  

Another sophomore Skyhawk who has dropped time in her last three meets broke her personal best by 3 seconds. Austyn Smith won in the girls 200 medley relay, 100 fly and 200 free relay. However, one of her “favorite” races, the 100 fly, is where she swam a 1:19:56, beating her previous best of 1:22:84. 

“Every practice I’ve been pushing myself more, and I think that’s the main difference,” Smith said. 

Deer Valley has a roster of 30 swimmers compared to Valley Vista’s 18. So, while they had an easier time gaining more points, they also placed first in 17 of the 21 races held at the Foothills Recreation & Aquatics Center. 

“Their team is significantly smaller, so that’s going to happen, but that’s not how I want to win a meet,” Currier said. 

Two of the events won by Valley Vista were swam by senior Jon Signs. Signs won the 100 fly with a time of 1:12:16 and the 200 free at 2:30:06. Despite not normally swimming the fly and gaining a win, Signs doesn't see a future continuing to swim the 100 fly. 

“I still really want to focus on my free and backstroke because I’m currently one second off from state, so it’s just something I need to put more time into,” Signs said. 

Valley Vista coach Christie Kearley was still able to find the positives in the meet despite the loss. 

“They all stepped up and just did it,” Kearly said. “They didn't complain about getting off events, they didn't have an excuse of why ‘oh I can't do it’.”  

Valley Vista will host Paradise Honors and Sunrise Mountain at Oasis Swim Center on Thursday at 4 p.m.

Deer Valley will travel to Goodyear YMCA Pool to participate in the West Valley Invitational (approved qualifier) on Oct. 3 and 4.