SUNRISE REGION: Divers power Gators boys, girls

Green Valley’s boys swimming team left Saturday’s Sunrise Region meet at Heritage trailing Boulder City by 31½ points. Just enough for the Gators divers to give them the win.

Green Valley’s four divers made up 32 points in leading the Gators to a 495½-495 victory over the defending Sunrise champion Eagles.

Coronado took third with 323 points, and Silverado claimed fourth with 199.

The Gators also rallied during the diving events for the girls title, edging the Cougars, 506-491.

“We filled out our roster in the diving, and that made the whole difference,” Green Valley coach Bob Swift said. “I got four divers out this year, and they did what they were supposed to do.”

Robert Hommel won two events for the Gators, taking the 200-yard individual medley in 1 minute, 56.05 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 47.82. But Green Valley’s 452.5 points still trailed Boulder City’s 484 when the swim meet portion concluded, leading Swift to a nerve-wracking diving competition at UNLV.

“It’s one roller coaster I don’t mind riding, as long you come off successfully,” Swift said.
William Meek added a win in the 50 freestyle (22.67) for Green Valley, and Meek and Hommel led the Gators’ 200 medley relay squad to a win in 1:40.53.

“Robert had great swims; I was expecting that,” Swift said. “But the other swimmers came through, did a great job.”

Coronado took a 476-472 lead over Green Valley for the girls championship after the swimming events, but the Gators made up the ground on Crysta Imahara’s first-place dive.

Freshman Smaranda Georgescu won two events for Green Valley, edging out Coronado’s Nicole Mertel to take the 50 freestyle in 25.22 and claiming the 100 freestyle in 53.87. The Gators also won the 400 freestyle relay (3:42.12).

Green Valley’s Allie Dodds added a title in the 200 freestyle (1:53.92).

Boulder City’s Zane Grothe switched it up from last year’s state-winning events, opting instead for region titles in the 200 free (1:40.62) and 500 free (4.38.96).

“Last  year, I swam the 100 fly instead the 200 free, so I wanted to change it up (this year),” Grothe said. “I swam the 200 free and 500 free like I did my sophomore year because they’re my best. So I changed it up a little bit last year just so it’s not the same ol’ same ol’. And then this year, I went back.”

Grothe also highlighted Boulder City’s 200 medley relay squad, which lost by one-tenth of a second to Green Valley, en route to claiming boys Sunrise Region Swimmer of the Year honors for the second straight season.

Andrew Peterson won the 100 backstroke in 53.40 for the Eagles, and Boulder City freshman Gunner Braden took the 100 breaststroke in 59.83.

Coronado’s Alix Mertel, who has signed with New Mexico State, took home girls Sunrise Region Swimmer of the Year honors, winning the 100 backstroke and anchoring the first-place 200 medley relay team (1:51.92).

Coronado also won the 400 freestyle relay, and Samantha Harrison won the 500 free (4:57.40) for the Cougars.