Anthony Kim of Albuquerque Academy is one of the big names to watch for in the New Mexico swimming season.
Photo courtesy of Nic Runnels
The defending state champions in New Mexico swimming appear to be quite capable of repeating their titles during the 2014-15 campaign.
That puts the spotlight on
Cibola (Albuquerque) on the boys side and
Eldorado (Albuquerque) on the girls side.
First-time champion Cibola expects to again get great mileage out of standout senior Magnus Holler, the defending state champion in the 200-yard freestyle. He also helped his 200-yard medley relay team set a state record of 1:34.87. Tameryn Huffman joins Holler as the only other returnee on that relay.
Coach Janet Huffman believes that Holler - who has signed with Texas A&M - is the top boys swimmer in the state. She said he will swim the the 100- and 200-yard freestyle this year and "relays have yet to be decided."
The Cougars also return standout sophomore Julius Holler, who has great versatility. They have been bolstered by the addition of junior transfer Jacob Harlan and several top freshmen, including Joshua Harlan and Stephen Duckett.
Albuquerque Academy, coached by legendary Dave Barney, will give the Cibola boys a run for their money. The 82-year-old Barney earned his status many years ago. Coaching boys teams, he has compiled a 375-11 record with 18 state titles, including six in a row. On the girls side he has posted a 422-55 record with 15 state championships. In addition he has "designed seven or eight pools" outside of coaching.
The veteran coach pointed out proudly, "The Academy has had more Academic All-Americans (in swimming) than any other school in the United States."
Barney returns a great junior,
Anthony Kim, who will battle Magnus Holler for top male swimmer in the state. As a sophomore he set state records by winning the 100-yard butterfly in 48.66 seconds and the 100-yard backstroke in 50.08 seconds. Both were automatic All-American times, Barney noted.
Kim is one of three returnees from last year's state-champion 400-yard freestyle relay team, which also included
Jason Hou,
Raine Min and Christian Cho (who graduated) and was affectionately tagged "The Orient Express" because it included two Chinese and two Korean swimmers.
Lauren Martinez, Eldorado
Photo courtesy of Kim Jew
The Eldorado girls, coached by highly successful Quint Seckler, have plenty of returning experience, paced by super sophomore
Olivia Heflin, who won the 100-yard breaststroke as a freshman. Heflin also was a member of two state champion relay teams. The 200-yard medley set a state record of 1:46.22 and all four members are back, including senior
Tyler Wickesberg plus juniors
Elle Rivenbark and Kelsey Robison.
Sophomore
Mikelle O'Donnell and junior
Sydney Hanks joined Heflin and Rivenbark on the defending 200-yard freestyle relay champs, while the 400-yard freestyle relay team also returns intact.
The Eagles also have two standout divers in sisters
Lauren Martinez and
Meaghan Martinez. Lauren, in addition, holds the state pole vault record at 13 feet, 3 inches.
Major additions include senior transfer
Gillian St. John, a sprinter and freestyler who has signed with the University of Utah, and freshman
Lauren Burckel.
Two other defending state champions return.
Natasha Dark, a junior from
St. Pius X (Albuquerque, N.M.) set a state record by winning the 1-meter diving with 494 points, while
Cassaundra Pino, a senior from
Albuquerque, won the 100-yard butterfly with a state-record time of 56.14 seconds.
