D-I swim-dive standouts: Espinosa, Toris, Simonovic, Farabee
November 4, 2012 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365
Brophy Prep senior Gabriel Espinosa and Pinnacle sophomore Victoria Toris emerged as the most decorated swimmers Saturday for the day's events at the Division I state swim and dive meet at Skyline Aquatic Center at Skyline High School while Mesa Mountain View senior Kat Simonovic completed a title-laden career with a couple more.
Espinosa, a senior, won his individual events and helped two relay teams to first place in helping Brophy capture its 25th consecutive big-school title. Espinosa won the 50- and 100-free, led off the winning 200 free relay team and anchored the 400-free relay. Brophy teammate Lukas Williams also brought home a title, winning the 200 free. Brophy, which won all three relay events, scored 344 points, besting runner-up Highland (178). Mesa Mountain View was third (155) followed by Chaparral (151) and Desert Mountain (127).
Equaling Espinosa in individual titles was Dobson senior Michael White, who prevailed in the 200 individual medley and 100 breast. The only repeat boys winner in swimming was Gilbert's Alex Schultz in the 100 backstroke. Horizon's Josh Olszewski won the the 500 free and Catalina Foothills Jason Alentado won the 100 fly.. Runner-up Highland got a repeat winning perfomance in diving from Bryce Farabee to pace its effort in the two-day meet. Farabee totaled a whopping 514.75 points,to outdistance runner-up Oso Manasseh of Ironwood (437.80).
In the girls competition, Toris was one of three swimmers to win two individual events. Toris won the 50-free and 100-free and like Espinosa swam the first leg of the 200 free relay and anchored the 40--free relay to victory. Capping an outstanding prep career was Mesa Mountain View senior Kat Simonovic with wins in the 200 free and 100 fly. Simonovic totaled eight first-place finishes in four years of competing for the Toros (seven individual titles and one relay title). Her only non-first-place finish in and individual event came in her freshman year when she placed second.
Also doubling up with titles on Saturday was Mountain Pointe senior Clara Jenck. Jenck won the 200 IM and 100 back. Her win in the 100 back was her second in a row. Other swim event winners were Pinnacle freshman Isabel Whited (500 free) and Ironwood Ridge's Sara Borendame, a repeat champ in the 100 breast. Xavier was blanked in individual titles and won only the 200 medley relay. Depth, as usual, resulted in the top spot for the Gators with 330 points. Xavier was followed by Pinnacle (245), Mesa Mountain View (169), Chandler (154) and Desert Vista (149).
Westwood diver Kyra Tatlow, who finished third last year, took top honors with a score of 413.30 to edge Red Mountain's Cassi Blakeman (404.75).