Tatum Dutton Lewis is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication Student assigned to cover Tempe Preparatory Academy for AZPreps365.com

In the week leading up to the State Championship, the Tempe Preparatory Academy swim team put in the extra hours, perfecting their strokes and focusing on what will help their chances at State glory.

The Division III AIA Swim & Dive State Championships takes place on today and Saturday at Phoenix Country Day School in Paradise Valley, where the Knights believe they are prepared to make a stand in the water.

Swimmers Matthew Allen, Keon Flett, Boone Palka, Caleb Donnellan, Louis Cristanelli, Nevin Fitzgerald and Caleb Butler have all qualified for State this Year.

Flett said in preparation for State, a swimmer must look at the strokes they are competing in and make sure their life, in and out of the pool, is well organized.

He said he hopes to drop his times in the 100m fly. 

According to the 2024 results, he took 17th in the Boys 100 yard backstroke (1 minute, 5.19 seconds), 19th in the 200 yard IM (2:20.67), and the relay team of Flett, Joshua Layos, Allen, and Donnellan took 17th in the 200 yard medley relay (1:55.12).

Fitzgerald is also looking forward to the 100 yard fly. He said that in practice, he focused on conditioning and shorter yardage, in hopes that it will allow him to cut the most time possible.

Pain is not the only challenge that the swimmer faces. Cristanelli, a junior who is recovering from a rotator cuff injury, said balancing school and swimming can be hard.

Last year, Cristanelli competed at State for Veritas Preparatory Academy. He brought home 19th with teammates Jaspar Loel, Andrew Youssef and Mason Bushard in the Boy’s 100 yard Medley Relay (1:57.69) and 20th in the Boys 200 yard Free Relay (1:42.67) with Youssef, Tyler Beebe and Bushard.

Cristanelli said he is not intimidated about competing at state. He said watching anime helps him succeed because it is motivational.

“State is always just state. You know, you qualify, just another meet, ” Cristanelli said. “A lot of people get really stressed over it, but it's not necessarily.”

Fitzgerald and his teammates said that at State this year, the team will finish with better placement then last year. Such a result would allow the team to continue its upward trajectory, which started just after the 2021-2022 season.

Fitzgerald said this meet should be fun; the team looks fast and everyone should be able to succeed in their events.

For one swimmer, though, this will be the last swim meet of his career.

Donnellan started swimming at a young age and through his high school career and this season he has been putting up impressive numbers in every event he competes in.

At least year’s state meet, Donnellan took 31st in the boys 50 yard free (24.86) and 23rd in the 100 yard free preliminaries (56.11). He was on the 200 yard free relay with Brian Mause, Jackson Gulseth, and Layos. They took 13th in 1:38.51. He was also on the 400 yard free relay with Mause, Gulseth, and Allen. They took 14th in 3:44.96.

With the times Donnellan put up this season, he is expected to improve upon these results and improve his standings.

But this year's State Championship will mark the end of a chapter in his swim story.

Donnellan said he was “really sad” to see this part of his life come to an end.

Overall, the team expects to excel at State. As long as they stick to their fundamentals and ensure that they are motivated and in the right head space, they will find success, Flett said.

“Wanting to succeed, wanting to do better, makes you succeed," Fitzgerald said.