Alamogordo Tigers Swimming Team Competes Strongly at Griffin Invitational in Santa Fe

Santa Fe, New Mexico – The Alamogordo High School swimming teams showed resilience and determination over the weekend at the prestigious Griffin Invitational held Friday and Saturday at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center in Santa Fe. The meet, a key early-season competition drawing top high school swimmers from across New Mexico, served as valuable preparation for the upcoming state championships.

The Lady Tigers finished a solid 10th in the combined girls’ team standings, while the Tigers boys’ squad placed 14th overall. These results reflect the teams’ ongoing growth and competitive spirit amid a field of strong programs, including dominant performances from local powerhouses like Santa Fe High, where senior Ian Wald won multiple individual events and qualified for state in both sprint freestyle and butterfly.

A standout moment for Alamogordo came from junior Rachel Carmody, who not only secured a 5th-place finish in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 26.19 seconds—earning her a state qualifying mark—but also contributed to three top relay performances. Her sprint prowess highlights her as a key asset heading into the postseason.

Girls’ Top Finishers:

• 200 Medley Relay: 9th – Temperance Covell, Teagan Green, Rachel Carmody, Maeve Wierzbanowski (2:18.36)

• 200 Free Relay: 11th – Rachel Carmody, Temperance Covell, Phoebe Wierzbanowski, Maeve Wierzbanowski (1:57.96)

• 400 Free Relay: 11th – Rachel Carmody, Maeve Wierzbanowski, Parker Wade, Teagan Green (4:39.46)

• 50 Free: Rachel Carmody – 5th (26.19, State Qualifier)

• 200 Free: Phoebe Wierzbanowski – 23rd (2:41.40)

• 100 Free: Teagan Green – 26th (1:08.90)

• 100 Back: Phoebe Wierzbanowski – 16th (1:32.55)

• 200 IM: Temperance Covell – 15th (3:05.96)

• 100 Fly: Maeve Wierzbanowski – 18th (1:26.85)

• 500 Free: Temperance Covell – 16th (7:23.85)

• 100 Breast: Hailey Nelson – 19th (1:45.59)

On the boys’ side, the Tigers showed depth in distance events, with solid relay showings and individual highlights from veterans like Caleb Crabtree and Chase Rose.

Boys’ Top Finishers:

• 400 Free Relay: 10th – Caden Walker, Adrian Viktorik, Rylan Maroon, Cruz Hernandez (4:45.50)

• 200 Medley Relay: 11th – Braylon Malone, Caleb Crabtree, Chase Rose, Landon Artiaga (2:04.33)

• 200 Free Relay: 13th – Braylon Malone, Chase Rose, Landon Artiaga, Caleb Crabtree (1:47.07)

• 50 Free: Caleb Crabtree – 17th (25.38)

• 100 Breast: Caleb Crabtree – 11th (1:12.81)

• 200 Free: Caden Walker – 10th (2:28.93)

• 200 IM: Landon Artiaga – 12th (2:42.38)

• 500 Free: Chase Rose – 10th (6:36.10)

• 100 Fly: Chase Rose – 15th (1:08.00)

• 100 Free: Rylan Maroon – 45th (1:13.28)

The Griffin Invitational, hosted annually by Santa Fe High School, is known for its competitive field and serves as a critical tune-up before district meets. While the Tigers’ relays demonstrated teamwork and potential, individual swims like Carmody’s state-qualifying 50 Free (a sprint that positions her well for the state meet later this month) provide bright spots and momentum.

Next Up for the Tigers

Alamogordo’s swimmers turn their focus to the District 3/4 Championships, set for Saturday in Artesia. This meet will determine seeding and qualifiers for the New Mexico Activities Association (NMAA) State Swimming and Diving Championships. With Carmody already qualified and other swimmers eyeing cuts in their events, the Tigers aim to build on their Griffin performances and make a strong push for postseason success.

Supporters praised the team’s effort, noting the challenging competition in Santa Fe helped identify areas for improvement. “Competing against the state’s best sharpens their focus,”  said a supporter. 

The Tigers’ performance underscores the program’s commitment to growth, with a mix of experienced swimmers and emerging talent. Fans can follow updates via local media, including 2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News and KALH Radio.

For full meet results and more on New Mexico high school swimming, visit the NMAA website at nmact.org or check team pages on platforms like Swimcloud.

More News from Alamogordo

• Alamogordo Kiwanis Club Celebrates Most Improved Students for Fall 2025 at Mountain View and Chaparral Middle Schools Most improved students of the month
• Alamogordo Author & Journalist Chris Edwards Releases 'Shall Not Be Infringed': A Call for Second Amendment Restoration for Rehabilitated Felons 2nd Amendment rights, Shall Not Be Infringed, take a front seat in a new essay supporting a Trump/Bondi Policy Update...