In case you haven’t heard, the youth of Kanab have a swim team; a very good swim team in fact. Kanab City Recreation has offered swim team as a summer activity for the youth of Kanab since 2018. Approximately 120 youth participated in the program this year under the direction of Coach Eva Raddatz. Raddatz has headed up the program from its beginning and has turned it into a dominant force in the swimming world. Kanab competes in a league with teams from the much larger areas of Hurricane, St. George and Mesquite, and they win. The Kanab City Bull Sharks swim team won the title against these teams in 2021, 2022 and defended it, yet again, this year in 2023.
From left to right, photos by Samantha LeFevre:
Butterflier Finn Roundy gauges the competition during his leg of the medley relay.
Kanab Bull Shark swimmers, Clarissa Bowman, Addyson Andrews, Olivia Raddatz, McKynna Shepherd and Mya Capson face off in the final of the girls 15-18 100 M breaststroke last weekend at Utah Tech University’s Performance Center.
Tylee Hafen glides through the water during the backstroke leg of her 100 M individual medley.
Kanab’s youngest swimmer, Violet Watson waits to enter the water during the, six and under 100 M medley relay, as teammate Declan Grow touches the wall.
Mason Roundy powers through the water during the prelims of the boys 15-18 50 M butterfly.
Freestyle swimmers Brooks Brown and Bryson LeFevre race to the finish line in during the boys 7-8, 25 M freestyle.
Olivia Raddatz turns in a dominant performance in the finals of the girls 15-18 100 M individual medley.
Youth swimmers ranged in age from five years up to 18 years old, included both boys and girls and focused on all four major swimming strokes; the butterfly, the breaststroke, the backstroke and the freestyle. Swimmers practiced five days a week during the months of June and July, competed in meets on weekends, and battled for the title at the regional championships, which took place on the campus of Utah Tech University at the Human Performance Center on July 29, 2023. Teams competing included: Kanab City Bull Sharks, Utah Tech University, Hurricane Tigersharks and Mesquite Manta Rays.
Warm ups started at 7 a.m., followed by preliminary rounds for all age divisions in all strokes. The top six athletes in each race and age division then came back later that afternoon to compete for the top spots.
The Bull Sharks edged out the Utah Tech University youth team, winning 2,654 points to 2,622, clinching the title for the third year in a row. Coach Eva Raddatz had this to say about her team this past season, “I am so proud of them! They worked hard. It’s fun to see them come together as a team. There were several times where the older swimmers would encourage the younger ones. Hive fiving each other and pushing each other during practices.”
Congratulations to all the swimmers and Coach Eva Raddatz on an amazing season and a job well done! Way to represent Kanab!
