Williams tops Clippers in coach’s last year

Cottonwood Clippers swimmers finish a morning practice after returning from the Kingman Invitational meet on June 27. The Clippers are gearing up for their annual fundraiser, the Mile Swim, which will start Monday, July 6.
Valerie Luycx/Larson Newspapers

Sean Williams just keeps winning.

The Mingus Union High School incoming senior took home his third high-points trophy in two weeks Saturday,
June 27, to top 24 Cottonwood Clippers swimmers at the Kingman Invitational.

Williams, 17, scored 36 points to lead all 15- to 18-year-old boys from five swimming teams, while MUHS sophomore Gunner Tillemans scored 27 points to take second among the 13- and 14-year-olds.

Williams finished first in four events and led a mixed 200-yard freestyle relay team that also included fellow 17-year-old Lucas Smith, 16-year-old Ashlyn Wingfield and Skylar Mohr, 15.

Along with fellow senior Caleb Furey, Williams also helps coach 11-year-old Clippers like Dorian Boyd, who won the 50-yard butterfly and freestyle in 42.51 and 35.12 seconds, respectively.

“But I’m really good at the 50-yard breaststroke and I got fourth,” she said. “I think that’s what brought me down. My dive was good, but my streamline was too long. I had an arch underwater.”

Boyd also was runner-up in the 200-yard individual medley on her way to third overall in her age group.

“Last year, I took second,” she said. “So I was a little upset with myself. Coach Sean, Coach Caleb help give me my drive.”

As does 12-year-old Zoey Arwine, whose prowess in the 50-yard butterfly did not travel to Kingman. Lyla Thompson, Izzy Hoffman and Ashley Doerksen were all top-10 age group finishers in her place.

“I definitely look up to Zoey in the butterfly,” Boyd said. “She’s one of the main reasons I want to work on it more.”

The next-highest points scorer for the Clippers was Joseph Calhoon, 13, who finished sixth in his age group. He also led another mixed 200-yard freestyle relay team that also included Doerksen, Tillemans and Mohr’s 13-year-old sister, Emily.

In all, 11 Clippers would finish among the top 10 high-points finishers against swimmers from Bullhead City, Lake Havasu City and Needles, Calif., going into their primary fundraiser beginning Monday, July 6, at the Cottonwood Outdoor Pool — the Mile Swim.

For the full story, please see the Wednesday, July 1, issue of the Cottonwood Journal Extra.

George Werner

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