Olivia Dowell is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Xavier College Prep for AZPreps365.com. 

Before Xavier College Preparatory (XCP) faced Chaparral in its Tuesday afternoon meet, Gators head coach Glen Coy said the team was most anticipating its three relay races versus the Firebirds. 

“They score double points,” Coy said of the impact relays have on scoring. “So, every relay won is double the points of an individual race, so that’s why they’re so important.”

Gators lost their swim meet 115-71 to the Firebirds on Tuesday at Brophy Preparatory Aquatic Center but had a few standout performances. Senior Gracie Munk, who took home a second-place finish in the first event of the evening in the 200-yard medley relay with her teammates and won the 100-yard butterfly, said she was proud of her team for coming together to support each other. 

“We’ve been working hard for [the meet],” Munk said. “I’m super happy with how everyone did. We took a couple of wins, so that was super exciting.”

In both of the freestyle races senior Hope Nolan competed in, she placed first for the Gators as well as placing second in the 400-yard relay with Munk and fellow teammates, junior Lainey Weiland and senior Ashleigh Barros. 

“Those were excellent races for both of them,” Coy said. “It was their seasonal best times, which is what we’re looking for right now."

“Just to get to the wall first,” Nolan said of her mentality to place first. “I just wanted to beat the people next to me and just have a fun race. I wasn’t really too worried about my times, just beating the person next to you.”

With XCP and Chaparral being in the greater Phoenix area together, the two schools had swimmers competing against each other that are in the same club programs as each other outside of high school swimming. 

“It’s definitely fun seeing my friends in a different environment when we’re not here as teammates,” Nolan said. “We’re here as competitors competing against each other, which is super fun to be here with each other.”

The Gators’ swim team will have their next meet on Saturday, September 18 at 10:00 a.m. for the BCP/XCP Invite at the same location as Tuesday’s meet. The goal for that day, in Coy's mind, is simple.

“We have our invitational here this weekend and will be looking to qualify as many swimmers for state as we can,” Coy said.