Swimming & DivingThe Kent Denver swimming and diving team has a tradition of excellence. The Sun Devils collected three individual state titles in 2020 and 2021—two in the 500-yard freestyle and one in the 200-yard individual medley—and have four top-5 finishes in the 3A state meet team rankings in the past eight years.
In 2021, the program welcomed Head Coach Kim Garcia to lead the Sun Devil Swim and Dive family.
"Kim brings great energy to our program," Athletics Director Jeff Hollway explained. "We have very positive momentum, and Kim's appointment will only continue to foster a positive experience for our team."
In her first season, Coach Garcia led Kent Denver to 15th place out of 32 teams at the 3A state championship meet, which included two top-5 individual finishes in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke. In diving, three Sun Devils placed in the top 20 at state, while Dive Coach Lise Kafka won Dive Coach of the Year.
In 2024, the swim team came in fifth in the state, while diver Dea Mielenz finished second individually in Class 3A and was named Tri Peaks League Diver of the Year.
Coach Garcia is passionate about swimming and inspiring young athletes.
"As a coach, I will reinforce the supportive and dynamic culture of Kent Denver Swimming and Diving," she says. "So much of who I am today—and certainly my core values as a coach—come from my experiences with positive, encouraging and 'athlete-first' teams like the Sun Devils."
