Yuma Catholic Girls have six swimmers qualify for state
YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - The Yuma Catholic High School Girls Swim Team proved that size doesn't define success.
With only 14 swimmers on the roster, the Shamrocks brought home the Colorado River Championship title after a dominant performance at the Valley Aquatic Center and every single member of the team has now qualified for the state meet.
The team's depth and consistency carried them through the meet, led by standout performances from Rylee Doak, Ryan Webb, Sadie Reyes, and Raegyn Doak.
Together, the four powered Yuma Catholic's 200 and 400 Freestyle relay teams to first-place finishes. Those relay wins currently stand as the fastest in AIA Division 3 heading into next month’s state championships.
Rylee Doak helped set the tone individually, winning the 500 Freestyle and taking second in the 200 Free. She said the team’s biggest goal this season was to prove they could compete with larger local programs like Cibola.
"Our goal all season was to show we could keep up with the local powerhouses like Cibola, and we did that," said Rylee. "We had at least one swimmer place top three in every event, which really shows what we can do as a small team."
Ryan Webb also shined, earning meet MVP honors after sweeping her individual events, the 100 Butterfly and 100 Backstroke, with commanding wins.
Sophomore Parker Gwynn said this title feels extra special because of how close-knit the group is.
"It's really cool to be able to say our team did this, especially since we're such a small group," Gwynn said. "We've been working so hard, and it’s awesome to see it all pay off."
Fellow swimmer Emily Olsen added that the team's success came as a surprise in their first full season together.
"We were a new team, and we had no idea how we'd do at all," Olsen said. "I think it just shows that if you work hard enough and stay committed, you can make it no matter what."
The Shamrocks' combination of top-end talent and total-team effort pushed them to a championship, and now, all 14 swimmers are preparing for the AIA Division 3 State Championships in Phoenix on November 7 and 8.
