BENTONVILLE -- Taylor Pike has the best times among Class 6A/7A swimmers in six individual events, and Bentonville High coach Nick Nersesian would love nothing more than to put his senior standout in all of them during the Arkansas Swim and Dive Championships.
However, Arkansas rules only allow swimmers to participate in two individual events and two relay events during the state meet. It causes coaches to play a lot of mind games leading up to this weekend's event at the Bentonville Community Center.
At a glance
Arkansas High School Swim and Dive Championships
WHERE Bentonville Community Center
WHEN Diving competion starts at 3:30 p.m. today. Class 1A/5A swimmers will begin competiton at 9 a.m. Saturday, while Class 6A/7A swimmers will start to compete at 4 p.m. Saturday.
NOTABLE Bentonville High’s boys are seeking their 13th consecutive state title — the longest current run in any sport and the second-longest run of any sport in the state. Bentonville High’s girls will attempt to win their fourth straight state championship, while Haas Hall Academy’s girls win attempt to win their second straight state crown. … State record holders who will compete include Haas Hall swimmers Luciana Thomas, Corinne DeSpain, Caroline Stelte and Martina Thomas (girls 200-yard medley relay, as well as Thomas in the 200 individual medley), Bentonville’s Taylor Pike (girls 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly), Bentonville’s Hayden Harlow (boys 200 IM) and Bentonville West’s Gavin Vann (100 backstroke with Bentonville last year).
"Right now, it's a chess match," Nersesian said. "You're looking at what people entered on their sheets and looking who to scratch down. We have several people qualified for events, but they can only do two events.
"You're looking at the other teams and seeing what they are going to do. You know their swimmers and what their times and best strokes are, so the chess match becomes more involved because you have to start shuffling people to see where you can get the most points for your team."
This causes depth to become a big issue because teams can have up to four swimmers in an individual event. Bentonville, whose boys are aiming for their 13th consecutive state title and whose girls seek a fourth straight state championship, will turn to others to gather up points behind their leaders.
Nersesian will count on swimmers such as Hayden Dixon, Simon Mooney, Ryan Husband to pick up points behind senior leader Hayden Harlow, who has the state's best times in three events. On the girls side, he has Loren Hedgecock, Madeline Marks, Lainey Quandt, Gabby Collins and others to help with the scoring where Pike can't.
"You're going to relay on those who are mid-level right now," Nersesian said. "Those are the ones who, last year, bettered their times and moved up in the points category. We're hoping that, with the system we have and how we work, will get those kids moving up the ladder."
All divers will compete in their portion of the state championships this afternoon, then the swimming take place Saturday with a new format. The Class 1A/5A swimmers will compete in a morning session, while the Class 6A/7A swimmers will hit the pool in an afternoon session.
Haas Hall Academy, which won the 1A/5A girls state title last year, return all but one swimmer from last year's group. The Lady Mastiffs, however, picked up some help when Rachel Reaves transferred from Springdale Har-Ber and they added sophomore diver Josephine Matalone.
"Rachel really added to our depth," Haas Hall coach Rebecca Moll said. "When it's time to fill in a position, she's perfect because she's always willing to help wherever she's needed, and this is a really solid group.
"The big improvement was adding a diver because now we feel like a complete package. We're really excited about that, and the other girls are expecting some big things. They're pumped up and excited, and they're hoping to expand on some of their state records."
Sports on 02/24/2017