ALBUQUERQUE — It’s nice for a swimming coach to know his team’s got members that can contend for top honors in at least a couple of races. Clovis High coach Vincent Demaio has that in seniors Miles Ware and Amber Espinoza, both of whom won individual events at a meet here on Saturday. A different kind of satisfaction is derived from introducing the sport to neophytes. And Demaio has that opportunity too. Take for instance freshman Nathan Matta, who Demaio said had never been taught a stroke until a couple of months ago. And, for that matter, how about Brandon Williams? At a four-team meet at West Mesa High School, Williams was on pace with a group of three swimmers fighting for second as the 100-yard freestyle race moved into the last 25 yards. On the last turn, Williams was fourth. By the end of the race, the Clovis junior was second. Anxiously watching from across the pool, wanting to know the time for Williams, Demaio seemed almost willing to jump into the water himself in order to get to the other side. It turned out that Williams’ mark of 59.70 seconds was the first time he had broken the one-minute mark for the 100-yard freestyle. Not bad for a guy that only started swimming competitively this season. “I started swimming when I was about four, but I never did any swim meet stuff,” said Williams, who was a lifeguard for a third season when he was coaxed into swimming for the Wildcats. “Last year, coach Demaio recruited me. I’ve known him for a couple of years now. We were sitting there and he asked me to race some of his kids. “I raced and, the next thing you know, I’m on the swim team.” Williams qualified for the state track meet last year and plans on competing again in that sport this spring in the 1,600. For now, Demaio is glad Williams gave swimming a shot. “Clearly, he’s got power,” Demaio said. “We just need to work on the technical aspects. For a new kid coming in, that’s the hardest thing they have to struggle with.” Clovis finished third in both girls and boys team standings, behind Eldorado and Albuquerque High. The girls had won three straight meets coming in, but were hampered when Jill Southard had sub-par times while swimming with a touch of illness. Amber Espinoza, however, did take the girls 100 butterfly, while the boys had two individual winners — Ware in two events (50 free and 100 breast) and freshman Nick Demaio in the 500-freestyle. Clovis also ventured to a four-team meet in Albuquerque a year ago, but Demaio said this year was different. "It's a little faster,” he said. “Albuquerque High has some real fast swimmers and so does Eldorado. But it was a good meet and we had some good swims.”