Jordan Buttner, Ian Conley and Jordan Lee (left to right) are underclassmen contributing to the Albuquerque Academy swim and dive program.
Photo courtesy of Dave Barney
Two major invitational swim meets will be held during January at the Albuquerque Academy, with the Academy Invitational coming Friday (diving) and Saturday (swimming) of this week.
Academy's Hall of Fame coach, Dave Barney, explained that this meet "is designed to provide an opportunity for all teams in the state outside of Albuquerque" to display their talent. There are several entries from Texas and Colorado as well as the best from around the state.
St. Pius X (Albuquerque, N.M.) diver
Natasha Dark is the defending state champion and will carry the favorite's role into Friday's competition. She will be pressed by the
Albuquerque Academy duo of
Miranda Martinez and
Lillie Guo. Martinez placed high in the state as a junior.
The Academy boys, led by All-American
Anthony Kim, are defending state champions and will be favored to win their own meet this weekend. Kim, who has signed with Texas A&M, holds numerous state records and probably will be swimming the 100-yard butterfly and backstroke.
Barney noted, however, that Kim "hasn't swam much (for the Academy). We've only had him for one meet (due to outside commitments). It would be nice to see him break 50 (seconds) in the 100 back."
Kim will have a strong underclass supporting cast, led by juniors
Ian Conley and
Jordan Lee, plus sophomores
Sean Jahner and
Calvin Stewart.
Barney added that "
Clovis has the best team (boys and girls) it has had in a long time."
In the girls division,
Los Alamos has a strong team, led by
Sarah Lott in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle. She did not swim for her school last year while taking part in club and USA competition. Other top sprinters include the Academy's
Sara Vianco and Madison Gordley from
Hope Christian (Albuquerque).
The Tom Casey Memorial will be held Jan. 30 at the Academy, with diving in the morning and swimming in the afternoon. Barney explained that this meet "brings together the top teams and swimmers in the state of New Mexico and, therefore, is the most competitive meet before the state (tournament)."
The field includes Albuquerque schools Academy,
Eldorado (Albuquerque),
La Cueva (Albuquerque),
Sandia (Albuquerque),
Albuquerque,
Cibola (Albuquerque),
St. Pius X (Albuquerque) plus
Rio Rancho.
In the boys division, the Academy's Kim, Lee and Conley will be challenged by such standouts as sprinter
Hank Gullick and
Ben Waterman from Eldorado and Sandia breaststroke star
Ian Kingsolver.
DeWuan Parham of Eldorado is a top diving contender.
Eldorado is the defending girls state champion, but coach Quint Seckler told MaxPreps that he probably will use his swimmers in off events, because they will concentrate on the metro meets leading up to the state.
Kelsey Robison and
Lauren Burckel are his top girls, though Burckel has been in just one meet so far due to a back injury.
La Cueva is led by senior
Natasha Kinney, but it is loaded with outstanding freshmen, including
Natalie Jones,
Chrysten Pacheco and
Anita Sumali.
