Swimming: Estancia splits with Magnolia

COSTA MESA - Estancia High’s boys swim team pulled out a 91-77

nonleague victory Friday over visiting Magnolia, while Estancia’s girls

team dropped a tough 78-77 decision to the Sentinels.

Estancia’s boys team (4-3) had six first-place finishes, but it was team

depth that meant a victory for the Eagles. Estancia’s Brian Monette and

Frank Gamboa took the top two spots in the 100 freestyle. Monette was the

winner in 58.87, while Gamboa turned in a 59.76.

Monette was the runner-up in the 50 freestyle (25.78) and was part of two

victorious Estancia relay squads. The Eagles’ 200 medley relay of

Monette, Phil Westfall, Jeff Hellmich and David Collier barely won,

2:01.60 to 2:01.80. On the flip side, the Eagles’ 200 freestyle relay

team of Westfall, Gamboa, Monette and Collier won comfortably by almost

20 seconds.

The Eagles’ K.C. Fairbarn captured the 100 breaststroke in 1:22.22, and

he was second in the 500 freestyle (6:25.00), which Collier won

(5:45.26). Collier won both the 200 IM (2:27.10) and the 500 free

(5:45.26) easily.

Westfall finished second in the 100 butterfly (1:13.20) and 100 backstroke (1:07.94). His teammate Brett Hellmich was third in the 200

freestyle (2:1.00) while his brother Jeff Hellmich was third in the 100

backstroke (1:11.00).

While the boys’ outcome had little thrills, Estancia and Magnolia’s girls

swim teams were locked in a tense battle. With both teams in a virtual

tie throughout the meet, the visiting Sentinels captured the last event,

the 400 freestyle relay, to pull out a 78-77 nonleague victory.

Estancia (2-4) had a slim lead going into the last event. The 200 medley

relay squad of Katie Wyman, Jennifer Cassity, Somer Flaherty and Diana

Kopasek easily won with a time of 2:29.50.

Flaherty racked up points for Estancia by comfortably winning the 200

individual medley (24.86) and finishing second in the 500 freestyle

(6:30.05). Stephanie Reid was second in the 200 IM (33.12). Wyman was

third in the 500 free with a time of 7:27.74.

Estancia’s Sarah Elizabeth Anaruma took the 100 butterfly in 1:27.50,

seven seconds better than the runner-up. Her teammate Jennifer Patton

collected valuable points with two third-place finishes in the 100

butterfly (1:44.72) and 100 backstroke (1:50.28).

But it were the relays that led to Estancia’s downfall. Magnolia won the

400 free relay by 16 seconds, giving it four extra points to surpass the

Eagles. Estancia barely lost the 200 freestyle relay by .25 seconds.