State swimming/diving: Academy wins title in Barney's last year

May 14—Make that 21 — and 42 — for retiring legend Dave Barney.

With Albuquerque Academy's convincing big-schools victory Thursday afternoon at the girls state high school swimming and diving championships at the Academy Natatorium, the 89-year-old Barney — who announced earlier this season that he was stepping down as the Chargers' longtime coach — earned his 21st blue trophy with the girls.

He already has 21 with the boys, who swim their meet on Saturday.

For the girls, it was Academy's fifth straight state championship.

"Barney is like the best part of our team," said Academy senior Allison Bernier, the state champion Thursday in the 500-yard freestyle. "He is the best coach ever. I'm glad we were able to win for him in his last year."

The Chargers piled up 392 points in the one-day meet. State normally is conducted over two days, but was reduced to just finals this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Eldorado (250) was a distant second, with Los Alamos third.

Bernier's victory in the day's longest race also created the tightest finish. She went out quickly and led comfortably for most of the the first 16 laps.

But the top seed, Clovis' Shyann Kissinger, began steadily cutting into that lead in the final four laps.

"She is a really good swimmer," Bernier said, "but I think I just kind of knew it was my senior year, and I really wanted to win something this year, and I think I knew I would able to pull it out."

Bernier expected Kissinger to close the distance near the end. And Kissinger did. Bernier touched the wall in 5 minutes, 8.39 seconds; Kissinger finished in 5:08.70.

"I knew if I went out fast enough, I'd be OK at the end," Bernier said. She also was a state runner-up to Hope Christian sophomore Reese Hinnerichs in the 200 freestyle.

Bernier also swam a leg on two champion relays for Academy: the 200-yard medley, and the 200-yard freestyle.

There were two double state champions Thursday, including Eldorado senior Emma Gehlert, who won the 200-yard IM in dominating fashion — touching the wall nearly eight seconds ahead of the second-place swimmer — and later captured the 100-yard breaststroke crown.

"I went out fast; I just tried to have fun with it," the Arizona State-bound Gehlert said after her victory in the IM. "Interestingly, Eldorado didn't have many chances due to COVID. The last meet, I just really went for it then, and went for it now."

Gehlert also swam a leg on the Eagles' first-place 400-yard freestyle relay to close the meet.

Las Cruces High senior Sarah Gormley swept the freestyle sprints, with convincing victories in the 50-yard and 100-yard finals.

Sandia senior Grace Pino switched up her program this year, replacing the 200 IM, which she swam the first three state meets of her prep career, with the 100-yard butterfly.

"It worked out in my advantage," the New Mexico State-bound Pino said after swimming to victory in the butterfly. In her best event, the 100-yard breaststroke, Pino finished second to Gehlert. "After COVID and after the training, I really didn't know what was gonna happen, so I'm excited that it worked out like this, and I was definitely thrown by surprise."

The upset of the day could be found in the 100-yard backstroke, where in Lane 7 and with the sixth-fastest qualifying time coming into state, Eldorado freshman Makaela Perea touched the wall in 58.01 seconds, just in front of Hope's Hinnerichs.

Albuquerque High junior Nadine Coulie repeated as state diving champion, and in impressive fashion. Coulie scored 476.95 points and finished over 100 points in front of runner-up Sophia Norenberg of Academy.

"This year has been really weird, but it's awesome to get back on the boards," said Coulie, who successfully defended her 2020 state title.

Santa Fe Prep, which was 16th overall, was named the small-school state champion.

(Click here for Thursday's girls results.)