Girls swimming: A better tomorrow

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - Newport Harbor High’s girls swimming coach Ken

LaMont hopes this is one of those years where everything falls in place.

With a lot of quality pieces, he thinks his team is capable of great

success.

The Sailors are returning the majority of last year’s young squad that

finished fifth in the Sea View League. Bolstering the team is a plethora

of newcomers who will raise the talent level immensely at Newport.

Sophomore Carly Geehr has Newport’s most impressive resume. She won a

silver medal in the Pan American Games last year in the 800-meter

freestyle. Geehr has a world ranking of 14th in the 1,500 freestyle and

31st in the 200 freestyle. She gives LaMont a potent weapon who can win

any event.

“What can’t she do?” he asked rhetorically.

Amy Murphy is the only definite senior on the Sailors. She qualified for

the CIF Southern Section meet last year in the 50, 200 and 500 freestyle,

placing in the top 16 for the latter two events.

Kyndra Cox, Katherine Gregg, Ronnie McKendry and Ali Taylor, four seniors

from Newport’s girls water polo team, are undecided and have until Monday

to decide whether to join the team.

Two freshmen, Nicole Mackey and Hayley Peirsol, brings impressive

credentials to Newport. Both qualified for the United Sates Swimming

Senior Nationals, both are ranked in the top 25 for their age groups and

both are versatile swimmers.

Mackey will be plugged in wherever she’s needed, and Peirsol, sister of

Newport boys’ CIF swimming champion Aaron Peirsol, will primarily be used

in the individual medley and 500 freestyle.

Two more freshmen on Newport’s squad are Peggy Beebe and Jenna Murphy.

Beebe will be used in long-distance freestyle and butterfly events.

Murphy, Amy’s younger sister, will swim backstroke. Juniors Erin Ball and

Erin Kelly Bates will also swim backstroke.

The Tars’ best breaststroker is junior Jennifer Arrow, who was a CIF

qualifier in the 100-meter breaststroke. But a broken ankle sidelined her

for half a year.

Sophomore Katherine Belden and junior Amber Braly will swim the butterfly

events. Junior Rebecca Carroll is Newport’s sprinter, and junior Sara

Daum is a freestyle swimmer.

Newport’s depth will be evident during the relays, where LaMont has a

variety of options.

“I have the luxury of having two relay teams,” he said. “I can also load

up one team and have one great team, which I’ll probably do for CIF.”

What is even more exciting for LaMont is the team’s youth. Teamed with

some returning veterans, he feels this is a breakout year for the

Sailors.

“This is the year where all the pieces kind of come together,” he said.

“Amy is a big asset to us, and with all these freshmen, we’re in for

quite a turnaround. We could go from second-to-last to a league title,

possibly CIF.”

And with only one definite senior graduating, the future is even more

optimistic.

“We’ll continue to be strong for the next two- to three years,” LaMont

said.

Roster

Jennifer Arrow Jr.

Erin Ball Jr.

Erin Kelly Bates Jr.

Peggy Beebe Fr.

Katherine Belden So.

Amber Braly Jr.

Rebecca Carroll Jr.

Kyndra Cox Sr.

Sara Daum Jr.

Carly Geehr So.

Katherine Gregg Sr.

Nicole Mackey Fr.

Ronnie McKendry Sr.

Amy Murphy Sr.

Jenna Murphy Fr.

Hayley Peirsol Fr.

Ali Taylor Sr.