Prep golf, swimming season previews

CIBOLA SWIMMING Division I

• Coach: Brad Broschat (4th season)

• First meet: Today at Kofa (with Mohave Accelerated)

• Boys lowdown: Senior Brock Jerpseth, a three-time all-region selection, was one of two individual state qualifiers for Cibola last year, when he followed up a strong showing at the Colorado River Championship (2nd in 100 fly/50 free) with an even more impressive 10th-place finish in the 100 fly at the Division I state meet. Senior David Acevedo competed at state as part of the 200-yard medley relay team, and was a top-eight finisher in two individual events at regionals (7th in 100 free, 8th in 200 free).

• Girls lowdown: The Raiders placed four girls on last year’s all-region team, two of whom are back this year (senior Abby and Emma Ballos). Abby, a two-time all-region selection, posted-team best marks in four different events last year and was one of just three local girls to record a pair of top-four individual finishes at regionals (3rd in 500 free, 4th in 200 free). Emma, also a two-time all-region selection, took fifth at regionals in the 200 IM and sixth in the 100 free. Both were members of Cibola’s state-qualifying 400-yard freestyle relay team (the only event the Raiders were represented in at state).

• Coach Broschat says: “We have plenty of young talent and both the boys and girls should compete well at the Colorado River Championship.”

KOFA SWIMMING Division I

• Coach: Mark Van Voorst (6th season)

• First meet: Today vs. Cibola/Mohave Accelerated

• Boys lowdown: The Kings lost three-time all-region selection Ryan Carroll to graduation; Jessip Salizzoni, Joseph Macias and Stephan Rivera are three returners Van Voorst highlighted in particular. Last year, Salizzoni was one of just four local boys to reach the Division I state meet, qualifying in the 100 breast with a season-best time of 1:06.10. Van Voorst called him “a great all-around swimmer.” Macias, Van Voorst said, is hoping to make a push for state in the 100 fly and 100 free after “a year of strong year-round swimming.” Rivera is one of the top returning divers locally. • Girls lowdown: Nylze Salazar, Karlie Kohmetscher and Monica Guzman are three girls Van Voorst highlighted in particular. Salazar ranked top-two on last year’s team in all three freestyle events, Kohmetscher ranked second on the team in the 100 breast and 200 IM and Guzman — who Van Voorst said is “back to redeem herself” after battling shoulder injuries — is a well-rounded swimmer who ranked first on last year’s team in the 100 free, 100 back and 200 IM.

• Coach Van Voorst says: “We are 60 strong this year. We thought it was going to be a rebuilding year, but it really took off.”

SAN LUIS SWIMMING Division I

• Coach: Renee Libkie (3rd season)

• First meet: Today at Mohave

• The lowdown: The Sidewinders, who have never before produced a state qualifier, have 13 returners and, according to Libkie, “the rest are very new to the sport and just learning how to do the different strokes.” On the boys side, the Sidewinders lost their only two swimmers who made the finals in an individual event at last year’s regional meet (Ivan Hurtado and Ismael Flores), but do return junior Ruben Elenes, sophomore Ricardo Angulo and senior Diego Ortiz, among others. On the girls side, the Sidewinders have three seniors (Adriana Sanchez, Lizeth Hernandez and Ofelia Giron) and three other notable juniors (Andrea Aranda, Anney Romo and Karina Diaz) who all competed at last year’s regional meet.

GILA RIDGE SWIMMING Division II

• Coach: Greg Brown (3rd season)

• Boys lowdown: The Hawks lost two-time Yuma Sun Swimmer of the Year Kempton Osborn to graduation, and also will be without two other of last year’s all-region selections (Matthew Eckard and Devon Wheeler). But they do return reigning all-region selections Talen Osborn, Aidan Lines and Austin Cannon, as well as other notable contributors in Matthew Castillo, Mike Lamayo and Lane Mellon. They’ve also added key newcomers in Ira Evans and Joseph Lines. Last year, Gila Ridge cruised to the boys team title at regionals with 577.5 points (Cibola was second with 364.5); this year, Brown said, “don’t be surprised to see a team deep in talent, especially from the incoming freshmen, attempt to make a run at back-to-back region titles.”

• Girls lowdown: Brown said this will be somewhat of a rebuilding year following the loss to perennial all-region girls swimmers Kacey Wellard and Elyssa Lines, but the team does return reigning Yuma Sun Girls Swimmer of the Year Sydney Tunell, a two-event regionals champ and 11th-place state finisher in the 100 back and 13th-place state finisher in the 100 fly. Sophomore Zoe Carll and senior Mallytza Ibarra-Davila are also all-region returners. Other names to watch are Emma Butler, Grace Crumby and Aliana Estrada returner-wise, and Rachel Pauly, Lexie Griffin and Melissa Carranza newcomer-wise.

YUMA HIGH SWIMMING Division III

• Coach: Shantele Sajdowitz (2nd season)

• The lowdown: Yuma High has just eight returners from a year ago — two seniors (Levi Martin, Miguel Alcala), five juniors (David Rueda, Sergio Soqui, Jwliannah Ortega, Isabelleah Ortega, Kayla Garciaduenas) and one sophomore (Laura Ortega Cordova). Martin came the closest on the team to qualifying for the Division state meet (in the 200 IM/100 back), while Rueda was also close in the 500 free.

• Coach Sajdowitz says: “I am very excited about this year as we recruited a lot of new swimmers who are improving daily and excited about the new season. My goal for this year is to have at least one individual qualifier for state in any event.”