Cameron Green, Springville
Eric Butler | For The Tribune Cameron Green, Springville High
Green’s accomplishments as a freshman swimmer amounted to a 4th-place finish in the Class 4A 500-yard freestyle last year. It was quite a leap up Saturday as the Red Devils took first in the 100 backstroke. In fact, Green’s winning time of 49.95 seconds broke the existing Class 5A record and nearly (by only .08 of a second) set a new standard for the state of Utah.
Makayla Cazier, Maple Mountain
Eric Butler | For The Tribune Makayla Cazier, Maple Mountain High
The Golden Eagles senior won two individual events in Class 4A last year, but the 2018 state meet started with a setback for Cazier. She finished second in the 200 individual medley to Brighton’s Rachel Butler. But Cazier bounced back to outdistance Butler in the 500 freestyle, taking the event with a time of 5:04.46.
Jack Binder, Brighton
Eric Butler | For The Tribune Jack Binder, Brighton High
Helping his fellow Bengal boys to the state team championship, Binder did his part individually by starting the day with a win in the 100 butterfly. He nipped teammate Chase Miyagishima in that event and later almost got another crown, taking second in the 100 breaststroke behind Cottonwood’s Blayze Kimble.
2
The number of first-time individual champions Saturday — both sophomores. Springville’s Cameron Green grabbed first in the boys 100 backstroke then Cottonwood’s Emma Walker was the winner in the girls’ 100 breaststroke in the next race.
5
The number of two-time individual champions at the meet — Viewmont’s Mariah Maile, Cottonwood’s Blayze Kimble, West’s Mitchell Simmons, Cottonwood’s Christian Simon and Cottonwood’s Rhyan White.
22
The number of boys’ state swim championships for Brighton. Saturday’s was the first for the Bengals since winning six straight from 2009 to 2014.