Richter sets pace as Green Valley wins girls Sunrise Region swimming meet

Forget the records. Green Valley sophomore Abby Richter is excited about the music.

After her performance Saturday, Richter probably will be the top seed in both of her events at the Division I state swimming and diving meet. And that means she gets to select the walk-out song for each race.

“I think I’m going to choose the John Cena song,” Richter said in reference to the popular WWE wrestler. “That’s going to be fun.”

Richter broke two state records, and teammate Victoria Navarro also won two individual events to help Green Valley take home the girls team title at the Sunrise Region meet at UNLV’s Buchanan Natatorium.

The Gators, who finished runner-up the past four seasons after winning in 2010, totaled 562 points to narrowly defeat Coronado. The four-time defending champion Cougars scored 537 points, followed by Foothill with 203.

The top two finishers in each event qualify for the state meet Saturday at Carson Aquatic Facility in Carson City. The third-place finisher with the best time between the Sunrise and Sunset regions also advances to state.

“Coronado is such a stacked team,” Richter said, “and to have this going into state, that’s going to be such a plus for us.”

Richter, the region swimmer of the year, won the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 2.90 seconds, bettering the mark of 2:02.97 set by Bishop Manogue’s Madi Hurst at last year’s state meet. Richter finished second to Hurst in that race.

Richter defeated defending state champion Tonicia Thomas of Rancho by almost three seconds in the 100 backstroke. Richter touched in 54.75, and the previous state best of 55.65 was set in 2002 by Marshi Smith of Reno, according to the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association record book.

Navarro won the 50 freestyle (24.09) and the 100 freestyle (52.07) and teamed with Richter, Liz Clinch and Brooke Ivey on the 200 medley relay team that set a region record at 1:48.24. Boulder City held the previous mark of 1:49.55 since 2012.

Coronado won the boys team title in a tightly contested, three-team battle. The Cougars scored 416 points to edge Green Valley (410) and Foothill (404½).

Coronado’s Jake Chir lowered his own region record in the 100 freestyle by .14 seconds as he touched in 46.46. The Cal State-Bakersfield signee also won the 200 freestyle (1:40.74), pulling away from Basic’s Liam Wetzel over the final half of the race.

Michael Velazquez of Green Valley was named the Sunrise swimmer of the year as he won two events. Velazquez set a region record in the 100 breaststroke, and his time of 55.84 is No. 2 in state history, according to the NIAA record book. He also took the 200 IM in 1:54.24, winning by almost nine seconds.

Foothill’s Kaden Jesperson was first in the 100 butterfly (54.14) and 100 backstroke (55.84).

In the Sunset Region, Palo Verde’s girls ran away with the team title, ending Bishop Gorman’s four-year stranglehold on the championship. The Panthers scored 617 points, while Gorman (352) was a distant second. Desert Oasis had 217 points to finish third, just ahead of Shadow Ridge (215) and Centennial (205).

Palo Verde’s Erin Emery, the girls Sunset swimmer of the year, was first in the 200 freestyle (1:52.72) and the 500 freestyle (5:00.86). Isabella Goldsmith won her third straight region title in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.39) and also took the 50 freestyle (24.03) for the Panthers, who swept the relays.

“This just shows how deep my team is,” Palo Verde coach Brent Gonzalez said. “There were just a lot of good swims.”

Palo Verde’s boys captured their 15th consecutive region title, scoring 500 points. Upstart Legacy was second with 291 points, just ahead of Gorman (287).

Logan Houck of Palo Verde won the 500 freestyle in a Sunset-record time of 4:29.03 as he was pushed by second-place finisher Nicholas McDowell of Durango (4:31.15). Houck’s time is No. 2 all time, according to the NIAA record book.

Houck, the region swimmer of the year, also was first in the 200 freestyle (1:42.09) as he reeled in McDowell over the final 50 yards to win by .11 seconds. Dylan Sweikert won the 50 freestyle (22.07) and the 100 freestyle (48.62) for the Panthers.

Legacy’s Isiah Magsino shaved one-tenth of a second off his region record in the 100 backstroke, winning in 51.55. Magsino also won the 200 IM (1:55.66) and swam a leg on Legacy’s victorious 200 medley relay.

Contact reporter David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidSchoenLVRJ.