Emma Wakefield is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Dobson High School for AZPreps365.com

Some of Dobson’s top swimmers have more on their minds such as the Division I state championship on Nov. 8 than just the loss against Chandler on Thursday.

Dobson girls lost their first meet this season, 101-82 against the Wolves. The Mustangs' boys team, which lost 137-4 to Chandler, has had it tougher consisting of just eight swimmers.

“This meet was more competitive than other meets we’ve had this year just because Chandler has such a big team,” said Dobson junior Grayson Pudleiner.

This doesn’t stop the boys from getting in the pool and swimming their hardest, especially not for Pudleiner, Dobson’s fastest junior ever in the 100-yard breaststroke. Pudleiner is eyeing the school record for this event, and hopes to beat it before the season comes to a close.

“Grayson is really close to Dobson’s all-time breaststroke record of 57.09, he is at 58.48,” said Dobson boys head coach Brian Mellott.

On the other hand, the girls have been on fire with only one dual meet loss under their belts. Despite this loss to Chandler, they still put up a lot of fast times for their team, including sophomore Madelyn Hamblin who won the 500 freestyle and recorded stellar times in three other events.

“My best race tonight was definitely the 500 free because I swam five seconds faster than last time,” said Hamblin.

Hamblin has qualified for a spot on the Mustangs for state, competing alongside Pudleiner. As they approach the end of the season, that means it’s tapering time for both swimmers. Tapering is when swimmers tone down their swim workouts in order to have full strength and speed at their most important meet of the season. 

“This Wednesday will mark my last hard swim workout, then I will start tapering after that,” said Pudleiner.

For some Dobson swimmers, the Mesa City Swim and Dive Championship on Saturday is their last meet this season, forcing Mellott to prepare them just one day after their loss. Fine tuning the little things is crucial in order for his swimmers to nail their events at the championships.

“The little things are important, we’re already in shape, so we’ve got to hit the dives, turns, and underwaters just right in order to swim our best at these big meets,” said Mellott.