By Gila Herald Staff
MORENCI / THATCHER — The heat is rising, and so is the competitive spirit across the Gila Valley as the summer swim season officially got underway this past Friday.
The Southeast Arizona (SEAZ) swim league opened its month-long campaign with a pair of highly anticipated dual meets. The Pima Flippers made the trek up the hill to face off against the Morenci Manta Rays, while the Safford Bull Sharks traveled just down the road to take on rival Thatcher.
Flippers Show Up Strong in Morenci
Up in Morenci, the Pima Flippers brought a massive contingent to the starting blocks, traveling with roughly 60 of their 80 registered swimmers.
The sheer volume of athletes didn’t slow down the action, however. Thanks to an incredibly efficient event staff, the entire meet wrapped up in just about three hours. Morenci’s hosting staff earned high praise for keeping the timeline tight, with local lifeguards stepping up to double as timers, coaches managing the chaos seamlessly, and a starter who was on point, keeping the heats rolling without a hitch.
Looking Ahead to Week 2
Fans and parents won’t have to wait long for more pool action. The fast-paced summer season features a swim meet every Friday in June, meaning teams are already turning their focus to next week’s matchups.
For the second week of action:
- Pima will return home to host Thatcher in a local rivalry showdown.
- Safford will play host to the traveling Morenci Manta Rays.
The Road to Finals
With the June schedule packed tight, every Friday night serves as a stepping stone to the grand finale of the summer. All four teams are tuning up their strokes and tracking their times with one ultimate date in mind: the Championship Finals.
The season will culminate at the Safford Pool on Saturday, July 11. The championship action is scheduled to kick off bright and early at 8 a.m., where the best swimmers in the valley will look to take home the gold.
