Sedona Red Rock Scorpions Swim Team Shines at State Finals
Updated: 8 minutes ago
The Sedona Red Rock Scorpions Girls Swim Team closed its state finals appearance with standout performances across relays and individual events, led by a state championship swim from Amria Mccullough in the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke. Red Rock High School finished 12th in the state by total points, marking a strong showing for the program and a clear payoff for the swimmers’ season-long work.
The Scorpions scored in several events at the state finals, with athletes placing in sprint, stroke, and relay races. The team’s results included a first-place finish, multiple top-three placements, and several scoring swims that helped Red Rock climb the team standings.
Amria Mccullough wins the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke
Mccullough delivered one of the meet’s top performances for the Scorpions by winning the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke. She placed first by more than a second, a decisive margin in a short high school race where places are often separated by fractions of a second.
The win gave Red Rock High School a state champion and highlighted Mccullough’s strength in the backstroke. Her race stood out as one of the defining moments of the team’s state finals appearance.
Mccullough also added a major result in the Girls 100 Yard Butterfly, placing 3rd. That gave her two individual top-three finishes at the state meet and contributed important points to the Scorpions’ overall total.
Kaylee McLean takes 2nd in the Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke
Kaylee McLean added another podium result for Red Rock with a 2nd-place finish in the Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke. The runner-up swim gave the Scorpions another high-scoring individual performance and showed the team’s depth across strokes.
Breaststroke can be one of the most technical races on a high school meet schedule, with results often shaped by timing, turns, and consistency from the first length to the final touch. McLean’s second-place finish placed her among the top breaststrokers in the state finals field.
Her performance also added to a meet where Red Rock athletes scored in several different events rather than relying on one race or one swimmer.
Relay team earns major points in the Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay
The Scorpions’ relay lineup of Amria Mccullough, Kaylee McLean, Holly Swaninger, and Neva Schieffer placed 3rd in the Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay, giving Red Rock a podium finish in one of the meet’s most team-centered events.
The medley relay requires four swimmers to handle four different strokes in order: backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and freestyle. Each leg matters, and every exchange can affect the final result. A third-place finish at state showed the strength of the group across the full relay.
The same lineup was also listed with a 14th-place finish in the Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay, adding another scored relay result for the Scorpions in the state finals results.
For Red Rock, the relay performances were an important part of the team total. Relays can shift standings quickly because they involve multiple athletes and award valuable points.
Holly Swaninger scores in sprint and butterfly events
Holly Swaninger added strong individual results for the Scorpions, placing 16th in the Girls 50 Yard Freestyle and 13th in the Girls 100 Yard Butterfly.
The 50 Yard Freestyle is one of the fastest events in high school swimming. There is little room for error, and a clean start, quick breakout, and strong finish can decide the standings. Swaninger’s 16th-place finish placed her in the state scoring field.
In the 100 Yard Butterfly, Swaninger joined Mccullough in scoring for Red Rock. With Mccullough placing third and Swaninger placing 13th, the Scorpions had two swimmers make an impact in the same event.
That kind of event depth matters at a state meet. When more than one athlete scores in the same race, it helps the team collect points while also showing the strength of the program in that discipline.
Red Rock finishes 12th in state by points
With points from individual races and relays, Red Rock High School placed 12th overall in the state. The finish reflected a balanced meet for the Scorpions, with contributions from multiple swimmers and multiple events.
The state finals bring together top competitors from across the state, making every scoring swim significant. For Sedona Red Rock, the results showed progress, preparation, and the ability to compete at a high level under pressure.
The team’s top results included:
Event | Swimmer or relay team | Place |
Girls 100 Yard Backstroke | Amria Mccullough | 1st |
Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke | Kaylee McLean | 2nd |
Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay | Amria Mccullough, Kaylee McLean, Holly Swaninger, Neva Schieffer | 3rd |
Girls 100 Yard Butterfly | Amria Mccullough | 3rd |
Girls 100 Yard Butterfly | Holly Swaninger | 13th |
Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay | Amria Mccullough, Kaylee McLean, Holly Swaninger, Neva Schieffer | 14th |
Girls 50 Yard Freestyle | Holly Swaninger | 16th |
A season of work shows up at state
The state finals results capped a season built on early mornings, late nights, hard practices, race preparation, and steady improvement. The Scorpions reached the final meet and produced results that brought recognition to the swimmers and to Red Rock High School.
Mccullough’s state title, McLean’s runner-up finish, Swaninger’s scoring swims, Schieffer’s relay contribution, and the team’s 12th-place finish all added to a memorable state showing.
Driving Forward Together: The Power of Teamwork and Great Coaching
The journey to the state preliminaries was a remarkable testament to the determination and hard work of the entire team, and we are especially grateful for the dedication of Coach Colin Ledbetter. While not all of our talented swimmers had the opportunity to compete on the big stage, we are proud of the impressive performances of Hoyt Henderson, James Garland and James Hyer, with Garland and Hyer earning automatic qualifiers to the state meet. Though they did not advance to the top 42 in their events, their unwavering spirit and dedication truly shone through.
Garland and Hyer passionately cheered on the girls during the finals, embodying the true essence of teamwork. Their commitment to the team and camaraderie fostered a positive atmosphere, reminding us that success is not solely defined by individual achievements, but also by the incredible support we provide to one another. Together, we celebrate their journey and look forward to future successes!
Congratulations to the Sedona Red Rock Scorpions Swim Team. All of that hard work has paid off!
