This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Provo • When the girls' and boys' high school state swimming meets are held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Richards Building Pool on BYU's campus, expect to see familiar schools win state titles again.
Though upsets are always possible, Viewmont, Skyline, Park City and Emery are all favored to successfully defend their girls' and boys' championships.
Brighton's boys could challenge Viewmont in 5A. And Woods Cross, Highland, Wasatch and Springville could all be in the mix for the 4A boys' title, while Highland could challenge Skyline's girls.
That said, the defending champions look strong.
Consider that Skyline girls have won 12 titles since 2001, including the last three. Park City's girls and boys are both trying to win their third straight, as are Viewmont's girls.
What makes these programs so strong year after year?
"Program success follows the coaching," said long-time Skyline coach Joe Pereira. "Dominating teams have consistent coaching and consistent facility usage."
Schools such as Skyline, which has a pool on campus, have a decided advantage. Teams with on-campus pools don't have to fight for practice times like some who use community pools that may be booked for other activities.
And coaches who stick at schools for long periods of time get reputations for developing good teams consistently.
State swimming meets, like cross-country, track and wrestling, feature both individual stars and dominant teams. Schools may not have more than one or two standout individuals, but can still come away with state championships by using superior depth.
The Utah Swimming Coaches Association lists combined bests for girls and boys that are revealing on who the top swimmers to watch should be the next three days.
On the girls' side, Brighton freshman Rachel Butler comes into the meet with the top times in the 500 and 200 freestyle. Viewmont's Mariah and McKenna Gassaway have the top two times in the 100 breaststroke.
Other girls to watch include Maple Mountain's Makala Cazier in the individual medley, Westlake's Kenzie Ford in the 50 freestyle, West's Autumn Wolfgram in the butterfly, Hunter's Claire Jackson in the 100 freestyle and Cottonwood's Rhyan White in the backstroke.
On the boys' side, the three top individual swimmers coming into state look to be Viewmont's Drew Bonner, Brighton's Jackson Binder and Cottonwood freshman Jared Arroyo.
Bonner has the top times in the state in the 500 and 200 freestyle. Binder has the leading times in the medley and breaststroke while Arroyo has top times in the backstroke and butterfly.
Other boys to watch include Canyon View's Nathan Wallace, who has the top 50 freestyle time this season, and Timpview's Brigham Harrison in the 100 freestyle.
Twitter: @tribtomwharton —
Utah High School swim meets
P At Richards Building Pool, BYU (Provo)
Class 5A
Defending champions • Boys: Viewmont. Girls: Viewmont
Schedule • Meet begins Thursday with first four events starting at 7 p.m. Final events are Friday at 6 p.m.
Class 4A
Defending champions • Boys: Skyline. Girls: Skyline.
Schedule • Meet begins Friday with first four events starting at 10 a.m. It ends Saturday at 3 p.m.
Class 3A
Defending champions • Boys: Park City. Girls: Park City.
Schedule • Meet begins Friday with first four events starting at 2 p.m. Finals are Saturday at 10 a.m.
Class 2A
Defending champions • Boys: Emery. Girls: Emery.
Schedule • Meet begins Thursday at 11 a.m.