Jimmy Van Wickler is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Arcadia High School for AZPreps365.com

The Arcadia Titans finished their season off competing in AIA’s Division II state championship on Saturday.

The atmosphere at the championship meet is electric as bleachers are packed to where people have to sit on the floor for them to be able to watch the action. Division II teams are all here to finish out the season with a bang and that is no different for the Titans. 

The championship is the toughest competition for them yet. The Titans competed hard and cheered with their teammates along the way as many championship swimmers got on the podium and were recognized for their hard work. 

“We are all kinda happy,” said junior Paul Huisman. “We put a lot of work into getting here.”

The four hour event had 20 swimmers swim in each event with two alternatives in case one of the swimmers is absent from the meet so only Titans swimmers that qualified for the championship were able to swim.

This particular meet is different from the rest due to the stakes and it being the last meet of the season for the Titans. 

The boys team finished the meet scoring 126 points for the team while the girls team scored 75 points for the Titans.

Some team highlights were that the boys 4x50-medley relay swam at a time of one minute and 47.96 seconds while the girls 4x50-medley relay swam at a time of 2 minutes and 51 seconds. 

Individually senior Aidan McClure swam in the 200-yard IM and got a time of 2:11.31 seconds while senior Ryan Mallender swam the 100-yard butterfly getting a time of 55.33.

This meet in particular is the last chance for Titans seniors to swim for their team in a championship meet. These swimmers are making sure to cheer on their seniors on their last meet as they exit their high school swimming career. The Titans swimmers make sure to not only compete for each other but support each other. 

“We are kinda hyping them up,” said sophomore Grant Moy. “We are on the same relay so we are going to make sure that we do well in that so they get a happy ending.” 

The last event for the team is the 4x100-freestyle relay and they wanted to make sure that it was special for their seniors. The boys relay finished with a bang with a time of 3:30.02 seconds while the girls relay finished with a time of 4:07.39 seconds. 

Head coach Ana Kilibarda has been coaching these kids throughout the season focusing on the little things that can make or break a race.

Last season seemed like the coach getting to know the swimmers and vice-versa which has led into this season where Titans swimmers have been improving on starts, turns and underwaters so that it can pay off on the biggest stage. 

“I feel like this season its been a lot more of the kids still getting to know me,” said Kilibarda. “I feel like now they have gotten really comfortable with me and they know what I expect out of them.”