ST. GEORGE — The Crimson Cliffs boys swim team won its second straight state 4A championship on Saturday.

Crimson Cliffs boys swim team members jump in pool to celebrate their second straight 4A state title, Provo, Utah, Feb. 17, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rachel Finger, St. George News

The two-day event, staged at Brigham Young University in Provo, featured preliminary races on Friday followed by finals on Saturday.

The Crimson Cliffs Mustangs finished with 338 team points, almost 90 points ahead of runner-up Murray High’s 248.5.

“We anticipated some good competition this year, with the 4A doubling in size, and were excited for the challenge,” said Crimson Cliffs head coach MaryEllen Cox.
“With a lot of seniors that I have coached since they were freshman, it was particularly a sweeter win having watched these swimmers progress over the years and reach their goals,” Cox added. “I couldn’t have done it without my assistant coaches and the support of some amazing swim parents. It’s a joint effort that brought us here to a repeat victory.”

Meanwhile, on the girls side, Ridgeline took home the first-place trophy for the third straight year, while Park City finished second. Region 9’s Desert Hills High placed fourth, while Crimson Cliffs tied for sixth.

Following are highlights from the state meet, with emphasis on top-five finishes by Southern Utah athletes:

Boys

Senior Mackey Cook of Crimson Cliffs placed third in the 200-yard freestyle. He posted a time of 1:46.72, slightly more than three seconds better than his previous best. Finishing fifth in the 200 free was Dixie senior David Leon-Moreno, who finished in a personal-best time of 1:48.69.

Derek Hall of Crimson Cliffs took fourth place in the boys 100-yard butterfly, Provo, Utah, Feb. 17, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rachel Finger, St. George News

Dixie’s Leon-Moreno also placed second in the 500 free with a time of 4:55.98. Also in the 500, Crimson seniors Derek Hall and Anthony Finger placed a respective fourth and sixth.

Cedar High senior Ashten Krans placed third in the 200-yard IM, posting a time of 2:04.19. Coming in fourth place in that event was Crimson Cliffs sophomore Taylor Fox, who clocked a time of 2:04.79.

Dixie senior Andrew Carlile won the 50 free in a time of 21.21. Crimson Cliffs senior Bronson Plumb placed third in that same race with a time of 21.87. Plumb also finished fourth in the 100 free.

Crimson seniors Derek Hall and Mackey Cook placed fourth and fifth, respectively, in the 100-yard butterfly.

Region 9 athletes captured five of the top six spots in the 100-yard backstroke, with Dixie’s Carlile winning in 51.32. Coming in second was Solmun Pak of Desert Hills in 53.42, while Cedar’s Justin Granado placed third in 54.09. Additionally, Crimson seniors Kala Cabana and Anthony Finger placed fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 100 back.

Crimson Cliffs senior Chase Kehoe placed fourth in the 100 breast with a time of 1:01.42.

The Crimson Cliffs boys placed second in the 200 medley relay, while Desert Hills took fifth. Crimson also took second in the 200 free relay and third in the 400 free relay.

Girls 

Chesney Bonner, a sophomore at Desert Hills, won the 100-yard butterfly in a time of 57.87 seconds. Bonner also placed second in the 200-yard individual medley. Her personal best time of 2:11.94 was just one-hundredth of a second behind winner Kathleen Richter of Murray’s time of 2:11.93. Coming in fifth in the 200 IM was Desert Hills freshman Emma Stevens.

Claire Daley of Crimson Cliffs took first place in the girls 100-yard breaststroke, Provo, Utah, Feb. 17, 2024 | Photo courtesy of Rachel Finger, St. George News

Dylan Romprey, also a Desert Hills sophomore, placed fifth in the 200 free with a time of 1:59.45. Romprey also took fourth in the 500 free, while Snow Canyon sophomore McKenzie Mugleston placed fifth in the 500 free.

Claire Daley, a sophomore at Crimson Cliffs, won the 100-yard breaststroke in a time of 1:09.30. She also placed second in the 100 free with a time of 53.32.

Crimson Cliffs girls placed fourth in the 200 medley relay, while Cedar took fifth. Desert Hills placed fifth in both the 200 free relay and the 400 free relay.

State 4A swim championships

Brigham Young University, Provo, Feb. 16-17

Top 10 boys team scores

Crimson Cliffs, 338.
Murray, 248.5.
Sky View, 163.
Jordan, 161.
Mountain Crest, 160.
Park City, 148.
Desert Hills, 111.
(tie) Cedar, 110.
(tie) Orem, 110.
Uintah, 107.

Top 10 girls team scores

Ridgeline, 292.
Park City, 261.
Murray, 177.
Desert Hills, 153.
Payson, 152.
(tie) Crimson Cliffs, 125.
(tie) Cottonwood, 125.
(tie) Cedar, 118.
(tie) Provo, 118.
Green Canyon, 108.

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