For the second year running, the Mingus Union High School swimming and diving team has retained the Heisley/Estes Cup against cross-valley rival Sedona Red Rock High School.
The Marauders won that trophy for the third year in a row, but were out-touched for the Warrior Cup, 95-93, by Northland Preparatory Academy in a tri-meet at Sedona Community Pool on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
“It’s awesome, it’s fantastic,” Mingus head coach Gretchen Wesbrock said. “They worked hard. We’re a small team, too, you look at numbers and we’re certainly smaller than NPA, but it was awesome to be as close to them as we were.”
The Marauders beat Northland Prep in a dual meet to open the season, on Aug. 31, by a combined score of 178-171. The Spartans girls were last year’s Division III champions.
“They came back strong back today, but it was closer than we’ve ever been to [the Warrior] Cup, which I think was exciting as well,” Wesbrock said.
Mingus swimmers took first place in 11 of 22 races against the Spartans and Scorpions, beating the hosts 106-82. The trophy is named after the founders of the two programs: Rick Heisley [Mingus] and Erin Estes [Red Rock].
Now the Marauders focus on the state meet; the top 24 individuals and the top 16 relay teams qualify.
“For our kids who are right on the cusp, that taper week is going to be really important for them to be able to make some qualifying times to make state,” Wesbrock said.
