Palo Verde set for title run

Palo Verde boys swimming and diving coach Bob Nicholson wants to win the state championship, and he wants to win it now. And that, quite frankly, is that.

"We're loaded all the way around this year," Nicholson said. "We're pretty young -- only two boys who are premier seniors -- but we have to keep our minds on, 'Yeah, we've got the talent, we know what we can do, but we still need to put it together.'

"That's our job, to make it work."

Forget that the Panthers' top swimmers are three sophomores and a junior or that they finished second to Reno in the state championships in 2007, Nicholson has big things on his mind.

The winner of seven straight Sunset Region championships, Palo Verde is gunning for the Huskies this season.

"They had more swimmers in more events, and that played against us," Nicholson said. "They're a strong team, but they lost a lot of what they had. The focus of this team this year is to get to state and bring it down to the south."

With his lineup, that's not a stretch.

Junior Jake Priest is back for the 200-yard medley relay team that placed second to Reno at the state meet, along with sophomores Cody Miller and Gianni Sesto. Though the Panthers lost a talented swimmer in graduated senior Scott Reppond, they add sophomore Jay Sirat, who sat out last season because of a zone variance.

Having senior Brandon Sorkin and Robbie Hill in the mix also helps.

"These kids who at age 14, age 15 are winning state, they're training and racing at a high level since they were 4 or 5 years old," Coronado coach Brook Brayman said. "Physical development matters a lot, but with swimming, there's a lot of technical issues at play. These kids who are experienced can do better than those big, strong athletes."

Added Nicholson about his team: "We really try to focus on swimming our swimmers in their best events. This year, we'll have our fair share of events. Without a doubt, the road is pretty clear for us to get into the position that Reno was the last two years."

Standing -- or is it floating? -- in their way are several talented boys teams in the south.

Nicholson said Cimarron-Memorial will give Palo Verde a run, with junior Cutter Haupt, sophomore Chris Marek and freshman Alex Lin leading the way. Centennial, behind juniors Christian Moody, Chris Bender and Taylor Graham, again will be strong.

And Coronado almost certainly will build on its fifth-place showing at state.

The two-time defending girls state champion, Coronado has toned down its expectations for another state crown after the graduation of several key seniors.

"The last two years, I've had a ton of girls who've been year-round swimmers," Cougars coach Brenda Tomtan-Brayman said. "And when you don't necessarily replace them with that level of swimmer, you just don't have the ability to do as well. Now Green Valley has a handful of high-level swimmers. And we're feeling that push."

The Gators, who finished tied with Centennial for 11th in state last season, are experienced and talented, featuring seniors Hillary Brown and Nikki Berriman and juniors Emily Martin and Devin Dorough.

After setting 12 school records last season, Sierra Vista should contend for the Sunset regional girls title with Helen Yee and Madeline DeAngelo.

Contact reporter Jon Gold at jgold@ reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4587.

SWIMMERS TO WATCH BOYS • Arbor View -- Brian Martinez • Bishop Gorman -- Mitchell Antisdale • Boulder City -- Zane Grothe • Centennial -- Christian Moody • Cimarron-Memorial -- Cutter Haupt • Coronado -- Martin Vanis • < Desert Pines -- Elmer Lopez • Green Valley -- Blake Bitton • Palo Verde -- Jake Priest, Gianni Sesto, Cody Miller • Rancho -- Sione Pulotu • Silverado -- Greg Pelletier GIRLS • Bishop Gorman -- Ciera Courtney • Centennial -- Kristen Farbridge-Currie, Lauren Moody • Cimarron-Memorial -- Courtney Brown • Coronado -- Tatum Gormley, Kendal Nisson • Desert Pines -- Jhereyan Lagmay • Durango -- Jaime McDowell • Eldorado -- Melissa Petersen • Green Valley -- Allie Dodds • Liberty -- Noelle Wheatley • Palo Verde -- Sarena Hobson, Mikayda Mills • Sierra Vista -- Helen Yee • Silverado -- Addie Oswald • Valley -- Marie Brown • Western -- Amber Pennington[/rjtemplate]