Millennium medley swim relay ready to defend Arizona crown

Millennium boys swimming is well into its second year in Division I after winning the Division II team title in 2023.

The Tigers cannot match the depth of bigger programs like Phoenix Brophy Prep or Phoenix Pinnacle. But they have their new rivals in terms of versatility.

Three of the four swimmers on Millennium’s 2024 state title 200-yard medley team are back. This year they have a legitimate shot at two relay golds.

“The team always does well at invitationals because these guys can score, and that’s how you win at the relay,” Millennium Coach Jessica Cox said. “If we go against Brophy at a dual meet, nobody can really beat them at a dual meet. But if you get them at an invitational and you spread out the talent, they’re beatable.”

Seniors Cole Faut and Zac Clark are back along with junior Ewan Cain. Last year, Marcos Bravo handled the butterfly and Joel Arnold the breaststroke.

As Faut said, that relay was the Tigers’ specialty last year.

“The fact that we had those specialists, everyone around us said that team will be a state champion in the medley,” Cox said.

It was her first season as a swim coach. Her husband, Anthony, swam at Purdue and handles most of the work on technique and strategy.
During last year’s Division I state meet the strategy was simple — roll out those specialists and watch them go. The Tigers cruised, beating both Mesa Mountain View and Brophy’s relays by more than two seconds.
“It definitely was a big accomplishment. We’d won a bunch in DII. It was nice to prove ourselves against the best competition,” Faut said.
Cain was the new guy last year and said he was happy to make an impact on the team, He’s back to handle the backstroke leg.
Joel Arnold graduated and his replacement is still to be decided. Junior Justus Heilshorn is the breaststroke specialist.
But junior Alex Arnold is the fourth best swimmer in the program. So there is the possibility that Clark could handle the breaststroke and Faut might take the butterfly leg.
“They stay composed. They are used to swimming at such a high level that they’re able to hold their emotions,” Cox said.
Brophy always looms as a contender. So do two schools disqualified at state last year.

Scottsdale Chaparral has a new coach, and probably will not be disqualified in the medley relay — not to mention the 400-yard freestyle relay. Plus, the other team with an impressive debut in Division I last year was a medley contender
“There was another team in the running last year but they were DQed, Arizona College Prep. They have a really good team,” Cain said.
Cain probably will swim the 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley.
He is also looking forward to a chance to make his mark at state Nov. 8, after being sick during last year’s Division I final.
“Swimming on a high school team is a lot different than club. It’s a lot more fun,” Cain said. “You get to meet a lot of kids and travel a lot. There’s good competition because there’s so many kids at Division I.”
Cox is in her 18th year as a teacher at Millennium, and formerly the Tigers head track and field as an assistant coach in volleyball
From the perspective of integrating the swim and diving program more into the rest of the campus and exhibiting more discipline, Cox said last year was a growth year.
She, her husband and the swimmers also had to dig the program out of a scandal that dampened the 2023 title. That team’s coach was arrested in by Buckeye Police July 2024.
“Last year was rougher. They hadn’t had a teacher in five years. It was also after a scandal,” Cox said. “There was a learning curve last year. It’s meaningful and I hope we get on the podium often.”
Practically the whole team swims club for the Westside Silver Fins. So Cox set up morning practice three days a week, and more of the advanced club swimmers attend those.
Afternoon practices are set every non-meet weekday. Cox said this generation loves choice and having choice on practice times seems to be working.
“It’s a fun experience. We have great coaches but we also have a good team. So you’re pushing yourself in practice,” Faut said.
Most of all, the Tigers boys and girls swim team now has 37 athletes, plus a stronger connection to the rest of campus.
The big four are all great students, Cox said. Faut will be a high school All American, which is an academic honor too.
“They way they’re representing themselves on campus is excellent. They have a really good reputation with grades and all that,” Cox said. “How they perform is secondary.”