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2009 Prep Swim & Dive
San Diego Section

Record-setting relays for Titans
Eastlake swimmers set records in threee events at CIF finals

Posted May 28, 2009
There was no team title nor were there any individual gold medals awaiting the Eastlake High School girls swim team at last Saturday’s San Diego Section championship meet but the Titans didn’t leave the deck at Rancho Bernardo High School without making a statement by setting new section records in two relay events.

The same foursome was involved in both history-making swims for the reigning Mesa League champions: Taylor Stoddard, Andrea Voigt, Justine Maher and Jacquie Kimmel. The quartet timed 1:36.77 in the 200 freestyle relay to best runner-up Carlsbad (1:38.73). The Eastlake unit timed 3:29.65 in the 400 freestyle relay to edge runner-up Torrey Pines (3:33.19).

The Titans not only successfully defended their gold medals in the two events from the previous season but obliterated the section record in the 200 relay event to rank among the best times in the state.

Overall, Eastlake shaved off 2.32 seconds in the 200 distance and 2.12 seconds in the 400 distance from last season.

Kimmel led the individual charge with second-place finishes in her two specialty events: the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke. She won both events last year to finish with four gold medals.

However, Kimmel did leave her imprint on this year’s meet by setting a section record in the 50 freestyle in preliminary qualifying on May 21. She finished the 2009 prelims and finals with three section records under her cap.

“All the girls on the relay team swam their best times that day — that’s what made it so fantastic,” said Kimmel, who will continue her swimming career at the collegiate level at the University of San Diego.

Eastlake finished fourth in the team standings at the Division I finals after back-to-back third-place showings the previous two years. The Titans finished with 171 points — just one point behind third place Torrey Pines and 15 points behind second place Rancho Bernardo this year. Carlsbad captured the team title with 218 points.

It was certainly elite company all the way around.

Kimmel timed 23.76 in the 50 freestyle event to lose by three-hundredths of a second to Carlsbad’s Katie Tomkinson (23.73) after setting a section record in preliminary qualifying at 23.68. Kimmel timed 57.79 in the 100 backstroke to place behind La Costa Canyon’s Kendyl Stewart (55.37).

The reigning Mesa League Girls Swimmer of the Year, Kimmel posted winning times of 23.90 in the 50 freestyle and 57.59 in the 100 backstroke at the 2008 CIF finals.

All four members of the Titans’ record-setting relays excelled at this year’s CIF finals.

Voigt placed second in the 100 freestyle (52.29) and third in the 200 freestyle (1:52.26) while Stoddard finished fourth in both the 100 freestyle (53.23) and 200 freestyle (1:54.01). Maher placed fifth in 50 freestyle (24.52) and sixth in the 100 butterfly (58.98).
A talented foursome to be certain and standard bearers from now on for the Eastlake program.

In the Division I boys finals, Otay Ranch’s Mike Kowalski (52.64, 100 butterfly) and Juan Robles (1:55.15, 200 individual medley) posted the top individual finishes of all Metro entrants by capturing third place in their respective events.

Just a sophomore, Kowalski also finished fifth in the 50 freestyle (21.78) while the Mustangs took sixth place in the 200 medley relay (1:41.28).

Eastlake’s Chris Schmuckal timed 56.89 to finish sixth in the 100 backstroke.

East County swimmers set to make a splash

Posted May 19, 2009
East County swimmers expect to make a splash at this weekend’s San Diego Section divisional swim and dive championships.

The Division I and Division II diving championships are scheduled Friday, May 22, at Helix Charter High School, beginning at 2 p.m.

The section swim finals are scheduled Saturday, May 23, at Rancho Bernardo High School.. The Division II championship meet starts at 9 a.m., followed by the Division I championship meet at 3 p.m.

Prelim entries are based on time standards (swimming) and point standards (diving) and must be submitted to the section office by May 17.

Preliminary qualifying meets were scheduled for Tuesday (Division II) and Wednesday (Division I), both at Rancho Bernardo High School.

A total of 26 teams are included in Division I and 46 schools in Division II. East County teams competing in Division I include Granite Hills, Grossmont, Helix Charter and West Hills. East County’s Division II teams include El Cajon Valley, Valhalla, Steele Canyon Charter, Mt. Miguel, El Capitan, Monte Vista, Santana and Christian.

Granite Hills defeated Valhalla, 101-85, in the teams’ annual high profile dual meet on May 7 to capture this year’s Grossmont South League girls swim title. In the same meet, Granite Hills’ boys team won a 93-92 thriller from the Norsemen to also claim this year’s league dual meet championship.

The league dual championship was the eighth consecutive for the Granite Hills girls team, according to coach Cathy Elgas, who added that the Eagles have gone undefeated in dual competition over that time span.

The league dual title was the second in three years for the Granite Hills boys team.

Grossmont swept this year’s Grossmont North League swim titles by defeating West Hills on May 6. The Foothillers won the boys meet by a 111-59 score and captured the girls meet by a score of 108-61.

The two leagues held their respective league championship tournaments last Friday, with event winners honored as members of the all-league first team.

Granite Hills had four individual event champions at the Grossmont South League finals. Senior Brianna Wilbur won the 50-yard freestyle (26.07) and 11-dive card (272.70 points) while freshman Roni Meyer captured titles in the 200 freestyle (1:57.73) and 500 freestyle (5:14.86).

Elgas noted that Meyer’s times were among the top three posted all-time in school history.

The Eagles also won the 200 freestyle relay with a league record time of 1:43.23. Relay team members winning the gold medal included Wilbur, River Croteau-Hanson, Meyer and Emily Clark.

Exciting swims on the boys side from Taylor Kirk in the 200 freestyle (1:53.75, third) and 500 freestyle (5:15.32, first), Riley Lekos in the 100 freestyle (50.00, fourth) and Robbie Mills in the 50 freestyle (23.02, fourth). The Eagles won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:43.60 on the strength of swims by Colt McKittrick, Lekos, Mills and Wayne Pugh.

Monte Vista had four individual champions in the Grossmont South League finals, led by Hayley Thiltgen with championship swims in the 200 individual medley (2:15.93) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.24). The Monarchs also took first-place finishes in the girls 100 butterfly (Frances Anderson, 1:01.12) and 100 backstroke (Riley Peterman, 1:00.92) events while Helix’s Lauren Molde captured the 100 freestyle title (54.43).

Valhalla had four individual champions in the Grossmont South League boys finals while also winning two of the three relay events.

Cody Saunders captured individual league titles in the 200-yard individual medley (2:01.81) and 100 breaststroke (1:01.06) to highlight the strong performance by the Norsemen, who also captured titles in the 200 medley relay (1:43.33) and 400 freestyle relay (3:18.90).

John Harriman won the 200 freestyle title in 1:49.10 to make it a one-two Valhalla finish in the event. Harriman also finished second in the 100 freestyle (49.15).

Steele Canyon had three individual champions in the boys meet: Gilbert Orozco (50 freestyle, 22.01), Brent Kerrigan (100 freestyle, 48.86) and Scott Mai (100 backstroke, 58.00). Kerrigan also finished second in the 50 freestyle (22.05) while Mai was second in the 100 butterfly (57.08). Orozco also notched a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle (57.37).

Metro swim champions: Think Titans, Mariners
Posted May 13, 2009
The Eastlake High School swim team captured team titles at last Saturday’s Mesa League championship meet at the Loma Verde pool but the Titans clearly weren’t hogging the spotlight. The reconfigured league produced one of the most competitive championship meets in years, with a plethora of South Bay talent expected to do extremely well at the upcoming section finals.

“The Mesa championship (meet) was a great way to end the regular season,” Eastlake coach Bryan Monzon said. “A lot of our new swimmers got experience in the big meet and swam extremely well. Our CIF swimmers got one last fast swim in before CIFs.”

Overall, Monzon said the Titan girls remained on track for a blockbuster climax to the season while Eastlake’s still relatively young boys team continued to do the most with fewer bodies on deck.

“The girls did really well as expected,” Monzon said. “The boys came out with the championship with a good win that came down to the last few events where our boys are strongest. This year was one of the more exciting meets in the last few years. The additions to our league with Hilltop and Mater Dei have really made the meet more competitive.”

No one present at the meet would argue. It was the best among those staged in recent years.

If swimmers weren’t out-touching swimmers from other teams at the touch pads, they were out-touching teammates. The girls races were particularly close. Exciting finishes were no less plentiful in the boys races.

Eastlake senior Jacquie Kimmel earned honors as the Mesa League Female Swimmer of the Year. She won four gold medals at last year’s CIF finals and duplicated that at this year’s Mesa League championships with first-place finishes in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke individual events and top placings in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Otay Ranch sophomore Mike Kowalski was named this year’s Mesa League Male Swimmer of the Year after notching first-place individual finishes in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, as well as swimming legs on the Mustangs’ victorious 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams.

Kimmel ranks first in the section in both the 50 free (24.11) and 100 backstroke (58.49), with the Titans owning the top time in the 200 freestyle relay (1:42.51) and third-best time in the 400 freestyle relay (3:41.38).

Kimmel went 24.15 in the 50 freestyle and 59.66 in the 100 backstroke in this year’s league finals.

Kowalski currently holds the section’s No. 3 time in the 100 butterfly at 54.34. He won this year’s Mesa League title in 55.43.

Multiple-event winners seemed to be the norm.

Otay Ranch’s Victor Robles remained undefeated on the season by winning his races in the boys 100 and 200 freestyle events. He owns the section’s top times in both events.

Eastlake’s Andrea Voigt, who has logged the section’s sixth-best time this season in the 200 freestyle, out-touched teammate Taylor Stoddard to win both the 100 and 200 freestyle events. Voigt’s margin of victory was 0.34 seconds in the 200 freestyle and 0.40 seconds in the 100 freestyle.

Eastlake’s Jason Demoss won the boys 500 freestyle (5:05.52) and 100 breaststroke (1:04.65).

Mater Dei’s Giselle Suarez bested Chula Vista’s Lidia Espinoza by 0.21 seconds to win the girls 200 individual medley while Bonita Vista’s Monique Beltran claimed the title in the girls 100 butterfly by a half-second margin over Otay Ranch’s Alex Sanchez.

The closest finish of the day, however, occurred in the boys 100-yard backstroke when Eastlake’s Chris Schmuckal (57.05) won a thrilling dual with Otay Ranch’s Juan Robles (57.06) by a margin of one-hundredth of a second.

Mar Vista dominated the day’s earlier South Bay League finals with 19 first-place finishes in both boys and girls competition while winning by 350-point margins.

Double individual event winners included Andrew Garrett (boys 200 freestyle, 100 backstroke), John Nicoloff (200 IM, 500 freestyle), Natasha MacAskill (100 butterfly, 500 freestyle) and Cassandra Meyers (100 freestyle, 100 backstroke).

The diving competition, held the previous day at the Parkway pool, was just as highly competitive with a field of 28 divers evenly divided between the boys and girls ranks.

Mar Vista’s Michelle McDonald repeated as the South Bay League girls champion with a meet-best 181.70 points.

Mesa League Divers of the Year included Hilltop’s Ashley Jasmund and Leo Diaz Deleon. Deleon recorded the top score of 141 points to win last Friday’s boys diving competition at the Parkway pool while Jasmund finished third in the girls field with 127.5 points. The Diver of the Year awards are based on performance throughout the season.

Mesa League Parade of Champions
Date/site: Saturday, May 9, at Loma Verde pool

Boys Top Individuals
200 medley relay: 1. Otay Ranch 1:43.03; 2. Eastlake 1:45.33; 3. Bonita Vista 1:47.74; 4. Hilltop 1:57.63; 5. Mater Dei 2:03.69; 6. Chula Vista 2:06.64

200 freestyle: 1. Victor Robles (Otay Ranch) 1:44.06; 2. Chris Schmuckal (Eastlake) 1:49.08; 3. Marco Hernandez (Otay Ranch) 2:01.88; 4. Erik Aguilar (Eastlake) 2:04.21; 5. Roman Gonzalez (Hilltop) 2:05.33; 6. Aldo Cordova (Otay Ranch) 2:08.06; 7. Adam Glick (Bonita Vista) 2:11.21; 8. Kevin Cochrane (Eastlake) 2:13.16. Consolation: Andrew Thein (Mater Dei) 2:09.83

200 individual medley: 1. Juan Robles (Otay Ranch) 2:05.75; 2. Jono Newman (Bonita Vista) 2:06.47; 3. Sergio Fourzan (Mater Dei) 2:08.95; 4. Eric Hum (Eastlake) 2:12.13; 5. Michael German (Eastlake) 2:13.13; 6. Nick Garduno (Eastlake) 2:14.82; 7. Dane Schmidt (Bonita Vista) 2:15.81; 8. Sergio Carreon (Hilltop) 2:22.70. Consolation: Mike Violante (Bonita Vista) 2:23.55

50 freestyle: 1. Mike Kowalski (Otay Ranch) 22.29; 2. Ismael Alvarez (Eastlake) 22.77; 3. Clinton Golder (Bonita Vista) 23.15; 4. Sean Ellerbrock (Hilltop) 23.47; 5. Alexander Kennedy (Hilltop) 23.95; 6. Cory Stoddard (Eastlake) 24.06; 7. Sergio Candelaria (Chula Vista) 25.00; 8. Chris Jaggers (Hilltop) 25.02. Consolation: Eddie Parra (Mater Dei) 25.44

Diving: 1. Leo Diaz Deleon (Hilltop) 141.0 points; 2. Reid Castro (Otay Ranch) 137.8; 3. Shane Garvin (Hilltop) 126.75; 4. Christian Valadez (Otay Ranch) 126.5; 5. Steve Lemus (Otay Ranch) 115.5; 6. John Hewuse (Chula Vista) 112.2; 7. Christian Baca (Otay Ranch) 104.25 8. Uzi Merino (Hilltop) 97.75; 9. Steve Lavy (Chula Vista) 92.65; 10. Kevin Valencia (Chula Vista) 92.5; 11. Tanner Franklin (Hilltop) 78.6

100 butterfly: 1. Mike Kowalski (Otay Ranch) 55.43; 2. Michael German (Eastlake) 57.56; 3. Jono Newman (Bonita Vista) 58.33; 4. Dane Schmidt (Bonita Vista) 1:00.40; 5. Ceazar Kainz (Chula Vista) 1:00.65; 6. Nick Garduno (Eastlake) 1:01.48; 7. Oscar Vizcara (Hilltop) 1:01.56; 8. Mike Violanta (Bonita Vista) 1:04.73. Consolation: Victor Serano (Otay Ranch) 1:05.86

100 freestyle: 1. Victor Robles (Otay Ranch) 47.52; 2. Ismael Alvarez (Eastlake0 50.05; 3. Clinton Golder (Bonita Vista) 52.39; 4. Cory Stoddard (Eastlake) 53.02; 5. Sebastian Murrillo (Bonita Vista) 53.06; 6. Sean Ellerbrock (Hilltop) 53.40; 7. Ian Muhlbach (Eastlake) 53.48; 8. Alexander Kennedy (Hilltop) 55.69. Consolation: Sam Barrick (Eastlake) 57.71

500 freestyle: 1. Jason Demoss (Eastlake0 5:05.52; 2. Luca Casimiro (Eastlake0 5:09.34; 3. Nestor Noyola (Otay Ranch) 5:35.49; 4. Marco Hernandez (Otay Ranch) 5:46.55; 5. Roman Gonzalez (Hilltop) 5:53.20; 6. Dennis Sanchez (Bonita Vista) 5:54.22; 7. Erik Aquilar (Eastlake) 5:56.21; 8. Isaac Noyola (Otay Ranch) 6:16.94. Consolation: Andrew Thein (Mater Dei) 5:58.58

200 freestyle: 1. Otay Ranch 1:33.57; 2. Bonita Vista 1:34.41; 3. Eastlake 1:35.38; 4. Hilltop 1:38.68; 5. Mater Dei 1:42.40; 6. Chula Vista 1:44.99

100 freestyle: 1. Chris Schmuckal (Eastlake) 57.05; 2. Juan Robles (Otay Ranch) 57.06; 3. Luca Casimiro (Eastlake) 1:00.99; 4. Eric Hum (Eastlake) 1:03.04; 5. Sergio Carreon (Hilltop) 1:04.06; 6. Nick Camacho (Mater Dei) 1:07.10; 7. Milk Casas (Otay Ranch) 1:08.69; Kevin Cochrane (Eastlake) DQ. Consolation: Steve Lemus (Otay Ranch) 1:14.20

100 breaststroke: 1. Jason Demoss (Eastlake) 1:04.65; 2. Sergio Fourzan (Mater Dei) 1:06.19; 3. Sebastian Murrillo (Bonita Vista) 1:07.42; 4. Nestor Noyola (Otay Ranch) 1:08.15; 5. Ian Muhlbach (Eastlake) 1:08.68; 6. Oscar Vizcara (Hilltop) 1:10.36; 7. Claudio Gage (Mater Dei) 1:13.05; 8. Nick Stenberg (Hilltop) 1:17.77. Consolation: Brad Bonney (Chula Vista) 1:14.88

400 freestyle relay: 1. Eastlake 3:33.85; 2. Hilltop 3:44.30; 3. Mater Dei 3:49.10; 4. Otay Ranch 3:50.46; 5. Bonita Vista 4:01.03; 6. Chula Vista 4:23.92

Girls Top Individuals
200 medley relay: 1. Eastlake 1:57.84; 2. Bonita Vista 2:01.27; 3. Otay Ranch 2:02.19; 4. Hilltop 2:10.56; 5. Chula Vista 2:15.39; 6. Mater Dei 2:27.75

200 freestyle: 1. Andrea Voigt (Eastlake) 1:56.74; 2. Taylor Stoddard (Eastlake) 1:57.08; 3. Mariela Rodriguez (Otay Ranch) 2:06.68; 4. Sabrina Odgen (Otay Ranch) 2:08.36; 5. Danielle Harrington (Bonita Vista) 2:13.31; 6. Elizabeth Aguilar (Hilltop) 2:13.33; 7. Shanise Lukie (Eastlake) 2:16.12; 8. Kathrine Quiles (Bonita Vista) 2:17.72. Consolation: Kelsey Eaton (Otay Ranch) 2:18.23

200 individual medley: 1. Gisella Duarez (Mater Dei) 2:20.06; 2. Lidia Espinoza (Chula Vista) 2:20.27; 3. Rebecca Pollock (Eastlake) 2:26.02; 4. Sarah Skinker (Bonita Vista) 2:27.38; 5. Sara Gagarin (Otay Ranch) 2:33.70; 6. Crystal Quezada (Hilltop) 2:36.76; 7. Yani Moyna (Eastlake) 2:39.27; 8. Andrea Gaspar (Otay Ranch) 2:39.68. Consolation: Jamie Hum (Eastlake) 2:38.56

50 freestyle: 1. Jacquie Kimmel (Eastlake) 24.15; 2. Justine Maher (Eastlake) 25.64; 3. Simone Banks (Eastlake) 25.72; 4. Leslie Rodriguez (Otay Ranch) 26.14; 5. Eira Perez De La Torre (Hilltop) 27.44; 6. Elena Lindsay (Eastlake) 28.07; 7. Diana Carreon (Hilltop) 28.43; 8. Leslie Oropeza (Chula Vista) 28.69. Consolation: Linda Lopez (Otay Ranch) 28.77

Diving: 1. Marissa Ringwalk (Hilltop) xx points;

100 butterfly: 1. Monique Beltran (Bonita Vista) 1:02.60; 2. Alex Sanchez (Otay Ranch) 1:03.11; 3. Justine Maher (Eastlake) 1:03.32; 4. Sabrina Ogden (Otay Ranch) 1:03.60; 5. Lidia Espinoza (Chula Vista) 1:05.64; 6. Elizabeth Aguilar (Hilltop) 1:07.92; 7. Sarah Skinker (Bonita Vista) 1:08.55; 8. Darlene Molina (Eastlake) 1:12.39. Consolation: Hailey Spelman (Eastlake) 1:17.80

100 freestyle: 1. Andrea Voigt (Eastlake) 54.77; 2. Taylor Stoddard (Eastlake) 55.17; 3. Leslie Rodriguez (Otay Ranch) 57.47; 4. Aabra Ahmed (Eastlake) 59.33; 5. Jesse Yamagata (Bonita Vista) 59.62; 6. Eira Perez De La Torre (Hilltop) 1:00.58; 7. Leslie Oropeza (Chula Vista) 1:03.85; Danielle Harrington (Bonita Vista) DQ. Consolation: Audrey Py (Otay Ranch) 1:06.89

500 freestyle: 1. Mariela Rodriguez (Otay Ranch) 5:35.97; 2. Jessica Moreno (Eastlake) 5:46.13; 3. Crystal Quezada (Hilltop) 5:54.63; 4. Sara Gagarin (Otay Ranch) 5:59.79; 5. Mallory Davenport (Mater Dei) 6:12.13; 6. Yani Moyna (Eastlake) 6:12.23; 7. Shanise Lukie (Eastlake) 6:23.19; 8. Kerry Lindsay (Eastlake) 6:27.80. Consolation: Stephanie Ferris (Bonita Vista) 6:39.35

200 freestyle relay: 1. Eastlake 1:42.51; 2. Otay Ranch 1:49.65; 3. Bonita Vista 1:50.25; 4. Hilltop 1:53.38; 5. Chula Vista 2:00.34

100 backstroke: 1. Jacquie Kimmel (Eastlake) 59.66; 2. Giselle Suarez (Mater Dei) 1:04.66; 3. Alex Sanchez (Otay Ranch) 1:06.71; 4. Jesse Yamagata (Bonita Vista) 1:07.26; 5. Aabra Ahmed (Eastlake) 1:08.34; 6. Jamie Hum (Eastlake) 1:11.11; 7. Andrea Gaspar (Otay Ranch) 1:19.60; 8. Cecy Inzunza (Otay Ranch) 1:23.00. Consolation: Ashley Smith (Chula Vista) 1:21.78

100 breaststroke: 1. Rebecca Pollock (Eastlake) 1:11.08; 2. Simone Banks (Eastlake) 1:11.70; 3. Monique Beltran (Bonita Vista) 1:12.17; 4. Jessica Moreno (Eastlake) 1:17.97; 5. Katherine Quiles (Bonita Vista) 1:19.48; 6. Diana Carreon (Hilltop) 1:20.91; 7. Linda Lopez (Otay Ranch) 1:21.83; 8. Kelsey Eaton (Otay Ranch) 1:23.92. Consolation: Jennifer Garcia (Hilltop) 1:24.07

400 freestyle relay: 1. Eastlake 3:44.32; 2. Otay Ranch 4:13.38; 3. Bonita Vista 4:29.28; 4. Hilltop 4:35.42; 5. Mater Dei 4:47.77; 6. Chula Vista 4:51.69

South Bay League Finals
Date/site: Saturday, May 9, at Loma Verde pool

Boys Top Individuals
200 medley relay: 1. Mar Vista (Andrew Garrett, Justin Patacsil, David Romero, Nick Rivera) 2:06.23; 2. Southwest 2:12.55; 3. Montgomery 2:13.24; 4. Sweetwater 2:15.59; 5. Castle Park 2:30.17; San Ysidro DQ

200 freestyle: 1. Andrew Garrett (Mar Vista) 2:19.37; 2. Oscar Miranda (San Ysidro) 2:19.73; 3. Eduardo Pimentel (Southwest) 2:20.71; 4. Jose Meraz (Montgomery) 2:29.26; 5. Alejandro Castaneda (Montgomery) 2:29.50; 6. Paul Bishop (Mar Vista) 2:29.51; 7. Agustus Castro (Mar Vista) 2:35.33; 8. Alonso Garcia (Sweetwater) 2:45.24. Consolation: Hector Diaz (Mar Vista) 2:42.81

200 individual medley: 1. John Nicoloff (Mar Vista) 2:30.91; 2. Justin Patacsil (Mar Vista) 2:37.53; 3. Aaron Sias (Mar Vista) 2:45.88; 4. Israel Salazar (Mar Vista) 2:47.02; David Arias (Southwest) DQ

50 freestyle: 1. Alberto Rosales (Sweetwater) 25.69; 2. Thomas Castillo (Mar Vista) 25.78; 3. Alan Coats (Montgomery) 26.93; 4. Jason Salmeron (Sweetwater) 27.02; 5. Sean Cornejo (San Ysidro) 27.27; 6. Nick Rivera (Mar Vista) 27.69; 7. Oscar Macias (Sweetwater) 27.85; 8. Pablo Villalpando (Southwest) 28.33. Consolation: Matt Wilson (Mar Vista) 28.24

Diving: 1. Cody Lollis (Mar Vista) 129.10 points; 2. Eduardo Hernandez (Mar Vista) 117.65;3. Gabriel Mayorguin (Southwest) 87.70

100 butterfly: 1. David Romero (MV) 1:08.08. Note: Other place-finishers not available

100 freestyle: 1. Thomas Castillo (Mar Vista) 58.36; 2. Jason Salmeron (Sweetwater) 1:00.41; 3. Alan Coats (Montgomery) 1:03.06; 4. Alan Cota (Montgomery) 1:04.50; 5. Pablo Villalpando (Southwest) 1:04.76; 6. Oscar Macias (Sweetwater) 1:05.49; 7. Matt Wilson (Mar Vista) 1:06.64; 8. Nick Rivera (Mar Vista) 1:07.68. Consolation: Eduardo Macias (San Ysidro) 1:08.56

500 freestyle: 1. John Nicoloff (Mar Vista) 6:10.11. Note: Other place-finishers not available

200 freestyle relay: 1. Mar Vista (David Romero, Aaron Sias, Justin Patacsil, Thomas Castillo) 1:46.02; 2. Sweetwater 1:48.49; 3. San Ysidro 1:51.66; 4. Castle Park 2:02.00; 5. Southwest 2:08.25

100 backstroke: 1 Andrew Garrett (Mar Vista) 1:14.05; 2. Matt Warren (Mar Vista) 1:17.78; 3. Israel Salazar (Mar Vista) 1:19.62; 4. Alejandro Castaneda (Montgomery) 1:20.51; 5. Cesar Cortes (Castle Park) 1:24.83; 6. Alonso Garcia (Sweetwater) 1:25.18; 7. Michael Reyes (Sweetwater) 1:25.22; 8. Andrew Arechiga (Southwest) 1:26.54. Consolation: Jaziel Pichardo (Southwest) 1:33.53

100 breaststroke: 1. Justin Patacsil (Mar Vista) 1:13.38; 2. David Romero (Mar Vista) 1:17.55; 3. Eddie Alvarez (Southwest) 1:17.65; 4. Esteban Garcia (Sweetwater) 1:19.21; 5. Alan Cota (Montgomery) 1:23.44; 6. Oscar Miranda (San Ysidro) 1:24.27; 8. Marco Amaral (Mar Vista) 1:26.62. Consolation: Seth Jones (Mar Vista) 1:29.42

400 freestyle relay: 1. Mar Vista (names unavailable) 4:08.44; 2. Sweetwater 4:11.05; 3. Montgomery 4:25.17; 4. Castle Park 5:38.48

Team standings (points): 1. Mar Vista 599; 2. Sweetwater 249; 3. Southwest 240; 4. Montgomery 196; 5. Castle Park 179; 6. San Ysidro 116.

Top Girls Individuals
200 medley relay: 1. Mar Vista (Cassandra Meyers, Harlene Lopez, Michelle McDonald, Natasha MacAskill) 2:05.33; 2. Montgomery 2:12.71; 3. Sweetwater 2:36.30; 4. Southwest 2:40.29; 5. Castle Park 2:52.19; 6. San Ysidro 2:58.73

200 freestyle: 1. Taylor Kincaid (Mar Vista) 2:24.60; 2. Kaitlin Wilson (Mar Vista) 2:35.29; 3. Vanessa Rodriguez (Montgomery) 2:35.89; 4. Cassandra Muller (Mar Vista) 2:42.28; 5. Christina Castro (Mar Vista) 2:46.09; 6. Shantel Diaz (Montgomery) 2:54.13; 7. Priscilla Arce (Southwest) 3:05.31. Consolation: Maritza Perez (Castle Park) 3:02.32

200 individual medley: 1. Vanessa Rodriguez (Sweetwater) 2:31.98; 2. Melissa Torres (Montgomery) 2:34.64; 3. Michelle McDonald (Mar Vista) 2:36.73); 4. Sarah Crampton (Mar Vista) 2:43.50; 5. Daylin Ames (Montgomery) 2:55.04; 6. Sialoren Spaulding (Mar Vista) 3:02.82; 7. Breeana Cordova (Mar Vista) 3:10.77; 8. Estefany Albanez (Southwest) 3:31.46. Consolation: Ivanna Robledo (Montgomery) 3:47.71.

50 freestyle: 1. Hannah Bossenger (Mar Vista) 28.23; 2. Imelda Gonzalez (Montgomery) 28.81; 3. Viridiana Casteneda (Montgomery) 28.85; 4. Christina Parra (Mar Vista) 31.76; 5. Kaitlin Wilson (Mar Vista) 33.29; 6. Stephanie Carranza (Sweetwater) 33.33; 7. Yennia Rubalcava (Mar Vista) 33.61; 8. Sheila Gordis (Castle Park) 33.98. Consolation: Anahi Balestreri (Montgomery) 33.65

Diving: 1. Michelle McDonald (Mar Vista) 181.70 points; 2. Harlene Lopez (Mar Vista) 148.75; 3. Rebecca Desha (Mar Vista) 129.10; 4. Valerie Palloto (Mar Vista) 86.90
100 butterfly: 1. Natasha MacAskill (Mar Vista) 1:06.73. Note: Other place-finishers not available

100 freestyle: 1. Cassandra Meyers (Mar Vista) 59.86; 2. Viridiana Casteneda (Montgomery) 1:03.58; 3. Hannah Bossenger (Mar Vista) 1:04.71; 4. Imelda Gonzalez (Montgomery) 1:04.90; 5. Vanessa Rodriguez (Montgomery) 1:10.99; 6. Kapili Pasa (Mar Vista) 1:13.87; 7. Stephanie Carranza (Sweetwater) 1:14.07; 8. Christina Parra (Mar Vista) 1:18.84. Consolation: Emily Ortiz (Sweetwater) 1:19.45

500 freestyle: 1. Natasha MacAskill (Mar Vista) 5:49.65; 2. Vanessa Rodriguez (Sweetwater) 6:04.23; 3. Yennia Rubalcava (Mar Vista) 7:04.87; 4. Rachel Garcia (Mar Vista) 7:05.06; 5. Cassandra Muller (Mar Vista) 7:12.09; 6. Paoma Moreno (Castle Park) 7:30.87; 7. Estefany Albanez (Southwest) 7:52.10. Consolation: Maritza Perez (Castle Park) 8:27.43

200 freestyle relay: 1. Mar Vista (Cassandra Meyers, Sarah Crampton, Hannah Bossenger, Michelle McDonald) 1:53.56; 2. Montgomery 1:58.42; 3. Sweetwater 2:16.60; 4. Castle Park 2:34.17; 5. San Ysidro 2:35.34; 6. Southwest 2:44.07

100 backstroke: 1. Cassandra Meyers (Mar Vista) 1:07.83; 2. Taylor Kincaid (Mar Vista) 1:13.44; 3. Kapili Pasa (Mar Vista) 1:17.76; 4. Sialoren Spaulding (Mar Vista) 1:20.60; 5. Shantal Diaz (Montgomery) 1:26.68; 6. Anahi Balestreri (Montgomery) 1:34.26; 7. Monceratt Galego (Southwest) 1:36.25; 8. Amanda Derge (Southwest) 1:36.64. Consolation: Karen Alviso (Sweetwater) 1:41.17

100 breaststroke: 1. Melissa Torres (Montgomery) 1:15.59; 2. Harlene Lopez (Mar Vista) 1:20.06; 3. Vanessa Rodriguez (Montgomery) 1:27.72; 4. Daylin Ames (Montgomery) 1:32.18; 5. Mytzuky Arevalo (Southwest) 1:38.10; 6. Emily Ortiz (Sweetwater) 1:39.39; 7. Althea Escalante (Mar Vista) 1:40.07; 8. Erica Maurice (Mar Vista) 1:42.57. Consolation: Breeana Cordova (Mar Vista) 1:40.40

400 freestyle relay: 1. Mar Vista (Taylor Kincaid, Hannah Bossenger, Harlene Lopez, Natasha MacAskill) 4:16.60; 2. Southwest 5:23.88; 3. Castle Park 5:38.55.

Team standings (points): 1. Mar Vista 679; 2. Montgomery 328; 3. Southwest 200; 4. Castle Park 190; 5. Sweetwater 178; 6. San Ysidro 97

Dive right in for Metro aquanauts
Division I dive order
Division II dive order

South County swimmers expect to make a splash at this year's San Diego Section divisional swim and dive championships. The Division I and Division II diving championships are scheduled Friday, May 22, at Helix Charter High School, beginning at 2 p.m.

The section swim finals are scheduled Saturday, May 23, at Rancho Bernardo High School. The Division II championship meet starts at 9 a.m., followed by the Division I championship meet at 3 p.m.

Prelim entries are based on time standards (swimming) and point standards (diving). Preliminary qualifying meets are scheduled May 20 (Division II) and May 21 (Division I), both at Rancho Bernardo High School, in advancxe of the swim finals.

This year's dive finals should include several game-ready Metro competitors if the outcome of this year’s conference diving championships is any indicator. A total of 28 divers took the boards at the Parkway pool on May 8 to make the event one of the largest and most competitive in the last decade.

Mar Vista’s Michelle McDonald repeated as the South Bay League girls champion with a high score of 181.70 points. She was pushed by teammates Harlene Lopez (second in South Bay League, 148.75 points), Rebecca Desha (third in South Bay League, 129.1 points) and Valerie Pallotto (fourth in South Bay League, 86.90 points).

Cody Lollis (129.1 points) out-dueled Mar Vista teammate Eduardo Hernandez (117.65 points) for the boys South Bay League title.

Hilltop’s Marissa Ringwald (142.65 points) captured the Mesa League girls competition while Lancer teammate Leo Diaz Deleon won the Mesa League boys title with 141.0 points ahead of Otay Ranch’s Reid Castro (137.8 points).

“This was great to see,” MV dive coach Dan Kovar said. “With the number of quality coaches we now have in the South Bay, interest has taken off.”

Metro Conference Diving Finals
Friday, May 8, at Parkway pool
South Bay League
Girls Top Individuals
1. Michelle McDonald (Mar Vista) 181.70
2. Harlene Lopez (Mar Vista) 148.75
3. Rebecca Desha (Mar Vista) 129.10
4. Valerie Palloto (Mar Vista) 86.90

Boys Top Individuals
1. Cody Lollis (Mar Vista) 129.10
2. Eduardo Hernandez (Mar Vista) 117.65
3. Gabriel Mayorguin (Southwest) 87.70

Mesa League
Girls Top Individuals
1. Marissa Ringwald (Hilltop) 142.65
2. Briana Reef (Hilltop) 137.0
3. Ashley Jasmund (Hilltop) 127.50
4. Ashley Smith (Chula Vista) 119.60
5. Carlin Riley (Bonita Vista) 118.85
6. Vanessa Joeckl (Otay Ranch) 112.70
7. Mibella Villafana (Eastlake) 105.0
8. Cristen Rask (Chula Vista) 103.30
9. Ashley Johnson (Hilltop) 99.70
10. Kimberlie Ramirez (Chula Vista) 93.60

Boys Top Individuals
1. Leo Diaz Deleon (Hilltop) 141.0
2. Reid Castro (Otay Ranch) 137.80
3. Shane Garvin (Hilltop) 126.75
4. Christian Valadez (Otay Ranch) 126.5
5. Steve Lemus (Otay Ranch) 115.50
6. John Hewuse (Chula Vista) 112.20
7. Christian Baca (Otay Ranch) 104.25
8. Uzi Merino (Hilltop) 97.75
9. Steve Lavy (Chula Vista) 92.65
10. Kevin Valencia (Chula Vista) 92.50
11. Tanner Franklin (Hilltop) 78.60

Divers of the Year
South Bay League
Female: Michelle McDonald (Mar Vista)
Male: Cody Lollis (Mar Vista)

Mesa League
Female: Ashley Jasmund (Hilltop)
Male: Leo Diaz Deleon (Hilltop)

Titans complete championship swim sweep of Lancers
Posted April 30, 2009
The Eastlake Titans boys and girls swim teams overcame a rather daunting obstacle outside of the pool en route to completing double undefeated Mesa League seasons: the dreaded 6 to 9 p.m. practice time slot.

The Titans share Southwestern College along with Bonita Vista and the college’s aquatics programs, with practice slots doled out on a rotating basis. The Titans received the late slot this year.
With school letting out at 3 p.m., or earlier, that’s a sizable chunk of time for student-athletes to effectively manage — balancing homework, family time and social needs along with practices.
None prouder on the SWC pool deck following Wednesday’s dual meet sweep of visiting Hilltop was Eastlake head coach Bryan Monzon.

“It’s one of the unsung joys of coaching,” said Monzon in regard to witnessing the dedication and sacrifice shown by his team all season. “It’s not always about the end result but about the process along the way. We’ve got 6 to 9 p.m. practices but everyone stayed focused and also during early morning practices and Saturday practices. It was about standing out in the rain at night while pulling 10,000 yards.”

The Titans recorded their due reward by virtue of a pair of sizable victories against a good Hilltop team. Eastlake remained undefeated in girls league dual meets by scoring a 129-56 win; the Titan boys won by a 122-61 margin.

Eastlake finished undefeated in both boys and girls league duals two years ago.

“You basically have to go undefeated to win the banner because we swim each school only once,” Monzon said.

The Titans led 12-2 in boys scoring after the meet opening 200-yard medley relay and 10-4 in girls scoring.

Hilltop out-numbered the hosts by nearly a two-to-one margin on deck but Lancer coach John Salts gave credit to the “sheer amount of talent” the Titans have assembled this year.
Eastlake won every swimming event between the teams on Wednesday, sweeping all three relay events and capturing first-place finishes in eight individual events.

Double individual event winners included Taylor Stoddard (1:58.17 in the 200 freestyle and 55.40 in the 100 freestyle), Jacquie Kimmel (24.40 in the 50 freestyle and 1:00.89 in the 100 backstroke) and Rebecca Pollack (2:28 in the 200 individual medley, 1:12.67 in the 100 breaststroke) in the girls meet and Chris Schmuckal (1:57.8 in the 200 freestyle and 1:00.58 in the 100 backstroke), Ismael Alvarez (23.28 in the 50 freestyle and 51.05 in the 100 freestyle) and Jason Demoss (5:17.60 in the 500 freestyle and 1:05.5 in the 100 breaststroke) in the boys meet.

The meet-ending 4x100 freestyle relay included Kimmel, Simone Banks, Stoddard and Aabra Ahmed for the girls and Luca Casimiro, Nick Garduno, Demoss and Schmuckal for the boys.
Garduno won the boys 200 IM in 2:18.4.

Justine Maher (1:03.19 in the 100 butterfly) and Jessica Moreno (5:45.8 in the 500 freestyle) were individual event winners for Eastlake in the girls meet.

Hilltop’s bright spot was its diving team as the Lancers remained undefeated in league competition by sweeping that event — the only event in which Hilltop captured first place in the marathon match-up that went from daylight into darkness. The Lancers boys team, led by Leopoldo Diaz Deleon and Shane Garvin, finished undefeated overall on the season, including non-league meets.

Hilltop’s girls team, led Wednesday by Ashley Jasmund, Ashley Johnson and BreAnna Reef, lost only one diving competition — that to Mar Vista in a non-league match-up.
Despite going 5-0 in league competition, Monzon said his team’s end goal remains yet ahead.

“We won league but we can’t be satisfied with that,” he said. “We want to do something that no other South Bay team has done —we want to win a CIF banner.”

Titans blast Barons
Eastlake fielding one of its best-ever swimming and diving teams this season

Posted April 23, 2009
In terms of all-around talent, Eastlake High School may be fielding its most potent swim team in school history this season — that is, boys and girls teams combined.
“Eastlake was every bit as good as I thought they would be,” said Bonita Vista coach Joe Davalos in complimentary fashion after his Barons were swept by the Titans in Wednesday’s high profile Mesa League dual meet at Southwestern College.

The Eastlake girls team won by a score of 123-50 while the Titan boys squad prevailed 108-64.

Both Eastlake teams remain undefeated in league competition heading into next week’s league showdown against Hilltop. That meet is scheduled Wednesday, April 29, at Southwestern College.
Hilltop entered Thursday’s dual encounter against Otay Ranch undefeated in boys competition while the Lancer girls team sported a hefty 6-2 record.

Just how good are the 2009 Titans?

Pretty darn good, simply put.

Eastlake finished third for the second consecutive season in last year’s San Diego Section Division I swim finals — a scant 12 points behind second place Carlsbad and 13 points behind meet champion Rancho Bernardo. Titan coach Bryan Monzon said he believes this year’s team has the potential to be just as good as last year’s record-setting team, if not perhaps a little better.
“We’ll be very strong in league,” Monzon said. “In CIF, if everyone swims like they did last year, we’ll be in contention for the championship.”

Davalos was quite impressed after seeing the Titans in competition. “Those girls, they’re so good — they could win CIF,” he said. “It’s great to have some strong competition in the South Bay.”
That, of course, will be seen in the coming weeks.

The Mesa League prelims are scheduled May 6 at the Loma Verde pool, with finals following that Saturday at the same site. This year’s conference diving championships are scheduled May 8 at the Parkway pool, the day before the league swim finals.

The Eastlake girls team won every single event except diving in Wednesday’s meet and went 1-2 in finishes in each individual swimming event. Taylor Stoddard (2:01.22 in the 200 freestyle and 5:50.08 in the 500 freestyle), Andrea Voigt (2:22.33 in the 200 individual medley and 56.42 in the 100 freestyle) and Jacquie Kimmel (59.69 in the 100 butterfly and 1:01.24 in the 100 backstroke) all emerged as double winners in individual events.

Kimmel won four gold medals at last year’s section finals, placing first in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke events while swimming legs on the team’s division championship 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Stoddard was second in both the 100 and 200 freestyle events at last year’s section finals while also being a part of the championship freestyle relay teams.

Voigt was fourth in both the 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle at last year’s Division I finals and swam legs on both the 200 and 400 CIF-champion relay teams.

Justine Maher (23.55) and Rebecca Pollack (1:12.09) captured top individual finishes in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, respectively. Maher placed fourth in the 100 butterfly at last year’s section championship meet.

The Titans won all three relay events. Voigt, Pollock, Jessica Moreno and Simone Banks combined to win the 200 medley relay in 1:59.69. The unit of Maher, Banks, Stoddard and Kimmel went 1:45.72 in the 200 freestyle relay while Maher, Voigt, Stoddard and Kimmel timed 3:48.13 in the 400 freestyle relay.

Eastlake looks to make some noise once again in the section finals with both freestyle relay teams.

Bonita Vista’s top individual performances were turned in by Monique Beltran with third-place finishes in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke while teammate Karlie Riley won the girls diving competition with 115 points.

Eastlake has been a dominant power in girls swimming over the past few years but would very much like to make it a clean sweep this season. The Titan boys team has already avenged a loss to Otay Ranch, last year’s Mesa League boys champion, and now looks for a victory against Hilltop to close out a perfect league dual meet season.

Eastlake won six individual swimming events and captured two of the three relay events to emerge with eight first-place finishes in 12 events.

Chris Schmuckal (2:00.02 in the 200 freestyle and 59.87 in the 100 backstroke) and Jason Demoss (5:13.49 in the 500 freestyle and 1:04.51 in the 100 breaststroke) both won two individual events for the Titans, who also received first-place showings from Nick Garduno (59.69) and Ismael Alvarez (51.07) in the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle, respectively.

Eastlake opened the meet with an automatic CIF qualifying mark in the 200 medley relay as Luc Casimiro, Demoss, Alvarez and Schmuckal clocked 1:47.24.

The foursome of Garduno, Demoss, Sam Barrick and Casimiro combined for a 3:55.53 time to win the 400 freestyle relay.

“We’ve got a very strong boys team this season due to a group of new freshmen,” Monzon said.

Among those talented newcomers are Casimiro (100 backstroke and 500 freestyle) and Cory Stoddard (sprints).

Eastlake finished 1-2 in the marathon 500 freestyle event on Wednesday as Casimiro timed 5:15.49 in second place. Casimiro also took second place in the breaststroke event.

Bonita Vista scored two individual event victories, won one of the three relay events and also captured the boys diving competition to turn in a respectable performance in Wednesday’s dual meet.
Jono Newman won the 200 IM in 2:07.18 while Clint Golder captured the 50 freestyle in 22.18 and Dane Schmidt took first place in diving.

The Barons won the 200 freestyle relay in 1:35.97 and finished second in the 200 medley relay with an otherwise fine time of 1:48.65.

Golder, Sebastian Murillo, Schmidt and Newman swam legs in both freestyle relays.

Numbers buoy Lancers in Mesa League swim odyssey
Posted April 30, 2009
When it was announced last year that Hilltop would be moving from the South Bay League to the Mesa League this season, moans and groans could be heard emanating from the westside Chula Vista campus. In some cases, the move has signaled a definite downturn in the win-loss record; in other cases, the increase in overall competition level has brought out the best in Lancer teams.
Such is the case with this year’s Hilltop swim team.

Entering Thursday’s Mesa League dual meet against Otay Ranch at the Parkway pool, the Lancer boys squad sported a 8-0 record while the girls team was 6-2 with what head coach John Salts termed “strong performances in all meets.”

“This is probably one of the strongest teams we’ve had since 2001 — the largest in depth,” Salts said. “I’m really proud of this year’s team. They’re doing a great job in maintaining their focus and team goals while enjoying themselves.”

The school’s aquatics program appears to be enjoying a renaissance in the move to the more intensely-competitive Mesa League.

Salts said the Lancers started the season with 165 students who turned in clearance packets. There are currently 175 athletes on the roster.

“Our competition team consists of about 110 swimmers and divers,” Salts said. “We have an incredible bunch of student athletes this season, all with great attitudes and a willingness to achieve more than their beginning expectations. We have had a large sports crossover group this season as well. Athletes from the wrestling, field hockey, soccer and basketball programs have made moves to improve their core training through cross training as members of the swim team.”

Salts noted that the team's numbers from the cheerleading team has more than doubled, which in all, he said, “has provided our team with a boost in the athletic-minded competitive athlete whom we have been looking for to add to our core group of swimmers and divers.”

“This, in addition to a large number of club swimmers who are first-year students at Hilltop have given us a boost to our program that has helped us move closer to our goal of being a large and competitive team on the county level, not just the local level,” Salts said.

Besides the large number of swimmers and divers on this year’s Hilltop team, the Lancers have ramped up their coaching staff. Hilltop alumnus and former CIF dive champion Kyle Kovar is back coaching diving and is assisted this year by former South Bay Diver of the Year and University of California Santa Cruz diver Sofia Murga.

Nick Davidson and Greg Sokil (both former standout swimmers and water polo players for Hilltop) are on deck and are joined by recent alumna Myranda Hess, who is coaching the newest members to the squad.

Salts oversees the boys and girls squads.

“In all, our coaching staff has grown from two to six coaches to meet the expanding needs of our program,” Salts said. “We look forward to seeing what the future holds for our teams while we train hard to meet the new and improved goals we have set for ourselves.”

Standouts and team leaders include seniors Chris Jaggers, Sean Ellerbrock, Andy Govea and Justin Jimenez

“All of them have brought with them a unique ability that together has really proven to be a successful mixture of personalities to keep our squad loose as well as focused when needed,” Salts said.
Salts said Jaggers “has really stepped up as our team leader this season.”

“With this large of a team, we really needed someone with Chris’ ability and talents to lead them,” Salts said. “Chris is a character who has really won over the team with his mixture of comedy and his take charge attitude.”

The Lancers geared up for Thursday’s important dual meet against Otay Ranch by sweeping Chula Vista in competition April 15 at the Parkway pool. Hilltop won the boys meet by a score of 133-52 and captured the girls meet by a 115-71 score.

Hilltop’s boys team took first place in every event, including diving, captured second-place finishes in eight out of 12 events and swept four events.

Junior Roman Gonzalez remained undefeated on the season in both the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. Sean Ellerbrock remained undefeated on the season in the 100 freestyle event but suffered his first loss of the season in the 50 free to teammate Alex Kennedy. Junior Leopoldo Diaz Deleon remained undefeated on the season in boy’s diving.

The Lancers have qualified two teams in each of the three relay events either with automatic or consideration times.

Individual automatic CIF-qualifying times include those posted by Ellerbrock in the 50 free, Diaz Deleon and Shane Garvin in diving. CIF consideration times include those by Ellerbrock in the 100 free, Oscar Vizcarra in the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke and Sergio Carreon in the 100 backstroke.

Hilltop took first place in nine out of 12 events, including diving, on the girls side of the meet against Chula Vista and finished in second place in six out of 12 events.

Sophomores Eira Perez De La Torre and Diana Carreon continued their dominance in the 50 and 100 freestyle events with another one-two finish. In six out of seven meets this season, they swapped first and second place between them.

Freshman Elizabeth Aguilar took first place in the 200 free while freshman Crystal Quezeda took first in the 500 freestyle. Ashley Jasmund continued racking up first-place finishes on the season with what Salts referred to as “her disciplined diving.”

The Lancers look to flood the pool with talented swimmers in the upcoming league and section finals. Certainly, Hilltop will make an impact numbers-wise in the diving competition. The team has already qualified two boy divers for the section finals and a whopping five girl divers.

Diaz Deleon (164 points) and Garvin (158 points) have made qualifying marks for six dives. The largest number of girls in recent years to make the CIF six-dive mark includes Marissa Ringwald (158 points), Jasmund (157 points), BreAnna Reef (155 points), Ashley Johnson (150 points) and Chelsea Fernandez (149 points).

“This by far, has been one of our most enjoyable seasons here at Hilltop,” Salts said. “Our team has bonded and really worked together to make this a fun and successful season. When you have a team that is this large, you expect to have a lot of personnel issues, especially with so many personalities. But our kids put the team first and, in doing so, have really found the benefit of what a solid program can provide for them.”

The Lancer coach said that includes a sense of belonging and a lesson in how to succeed when setting goals— both in the pool and out.

“At the beginning of the season, all you heard around the pool is ‘I can’t do that’ by all the new swimmers,” Salts said. “Now you hear ‘OK, coach, I’ll give it a try.’ It is great seeing kids gain self confidence, which carries over to other aspects of their life.”