Nearly half of the CIF-SS swim champions are skipping the state meet in Clovis this weekend

WHY ARE SWIMMERS SKIPPING THE STATE MEET: The inaugural CIF State Swimming and Diving Championships is akin to senior ditch day.
Only a select few students will show up.That is what is apparently happening at the inaugural statewide swim meet, which began Friday at Clovis West High School. Of the 44 CIF-Southern Section champions, only 23 will compete in the two-day meet, which had qualifying on Friday and the finals are on Saturday.
“High school swimming is like a different sport,” said Saugus High School’s Abbey Weitzeil, who set high school national records in the 50 and 100 freestyles last week in the CIF-SS Division 1 finals. “Its not really my focus; it’s just fun. I have bigger things to think about this summer.”
The problem appears to be a matter of scheduling.
“It’s a tough time,” said Pasadena’s Rose Bowl Aquatics team coach Jeff Julian. “The main issue for us is in that California that creates and extends another week of the high school season.”
The high school meets are in 25-yard pools and Southern California’s USA Swimming junior national 50-meter long course program generally begins the season with the Speedo Grand Challenge, a major national meet in Irvine this weekend.

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