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Wildcat swimmers rock Cor Classic

ROCKWALL, Texas — Clovis had 11 swimmers travel to the Cor Classic, a national invitational, and they churned out 67 personal-best times, 40 far-western qualifying times, 26 sectional times and two junior national times while competing in 77 events.

James Skuse stood out as Clovis’ top swimmer, having what coach Vincent DeMaio called a “breakout meet”. Skuse, who is getting serious Division I attention from Cal State Bakersfield, became the first Clovis swimmer to win a Cor Classic event, by notching a 1:51.39 time in the 200 backstroke. That was also good for junior national and far-western times.

“That’s a pretty big deal,” DeMaio said. “You’ve got to be pretty fast to get that accomplished.”

Skuse’s other junior national time was :51.83 in the 100 backstroke, which also gave broke a school record and gave him another far-western time.

He posted a 4:12.81 in the 400 individual medley; a 1:45.75 in the 200 free; a :47.95 in the 100 free; a :59.96 in the 100 breast; and a :22.00 in the 50 free. All were far-western and sectional times. Overall, he had seven top-10 finishes.

“He really swam great,” DeMaio said. “Those are big numbers.”

Anya Hammond was eighth in the 100 free with her time of :55.31, good enough to be far-western and sectional times.

Hammond also placed 12th in the 200 and 500 freestyles, posting a 1:56.58 in the former and 5:13.96 in the latter. Both were club records, plus far-western and sectional times.

Alex Aburto had seven far-western times and was top 10 in four events; Bella Zamora had seven far-western times and was top 8 in three events, top 15 in four others; Barrett Bryant had five far-western times, top 15 in two events; and Hannah Luscombe had two far-western and sectional times, including her ninth-place finish in the mile (18:26.99).

“So it’s pretty exciting,” DeMaio said. “The goal going into these meets is to get qualifying times for higher-level meets, and certainly it’s our best showing there.”

Clovis was making its third straight trip to the meet.

 
 
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