Girls swimming preview: Swimming is in at Harbor

Steve Virgen

The swimming boom has definitely arrived in Orange County,

especially at Newport Harbor High.

Names like Misty Hyman, Amanda Beard, Kristy Kowal, Amy Van Dyken and

Jenny Thompson have inspired Sailor girls to make their way to the swim

team, junior varsity and varsity. And, because Dara Torres graced the

pages of Sports Illustrated last year, swimming is now a cool sport --

Britney Spears posters are going to the closet.

“Swimming looks like an attractive place to be (at Harbor),” Tars

Coach Ken LaMont said. “Girls are taking notice. Last year, with the

excitement of the Olympics, we had a lot of local heroes and that adds to

the excitement.”

The trend combined with Harbor’s success has increased the number of

girls in the pool, LaMont said.

Junior Carly Geehr and sophomore Nicole Mackey actually swam in last

year’s Olympic swimming trials, which displays the talent the Sailors

feature this season.

Geehr won the Sea View League title in the 200-meter freestyle and the

100 backstroke. She also finished second in the 200 freestyle in CIF

Southern Section Division I and third in the 500 freestyle as the Sailors

were runner up to Irvine.

Mackey finished second in the 100 butterfly and third in the 200

individual medley in the CIF finals. She is the defending Sea View League

champion for both events.

Sophomore Hayley Peirsol is quickly making a name for herself. She won

a Sea View League title in the 500 freestyle, last year.

Geehr, Mackey, Peirsol along with then-senior Amy Murphy were the

Division I champions of the 400 freestyle relay. Murphy is now at

University of Nevada-Reno.

LaMont noted the loss of Murphy, but said senior Jennifer Arrow should

fill in both as a leader and a fast swimmer. LaMont is expecting Arrow to

make the most of her final season at Harbor.

“She’s been with (the program) when we were down,” said LaMont, now in

his third season. “She’s been a big asset for the improvement. This

season, she is going to help us to rally to get it going.”

Murphy’s sister, sophomore Jenna Murphy, a standout in water polo,

brings much speed to the quick Sailors.

Junior Katherine Belden, sophomore Paige Lansing, senior Erin Ball and

her sister Jessica, a freshman, are more water polo players who will

carry over their competitive spirit, LaMont said. And sophomore Mai

Tajima is another swimmer to watch for.

Sophomores Hillary Karges, who swam on varsity last year, and Peggy

Beebe, a club swimmer, should give the Sailors a viable chance to repeat

as runner-up in both the Sea View League and CIF.

LaMont has all but conceded the championships to Irvine.

“Irvine is untouchable this year,” LaMont said. “They are gaining

swimmers that are top swimmers in any other high school, but they’re

lucky if they make the junior varsity at Irvine. They are probably the

strongest they’ve ever been.”

The Vaqueros, who are seeking their fifth straight Division I title,

have reloaded with freshmen who are nationally and internationally ranked

in Courtney Cashion, Diana MacManus and Flora Kong.

The Tars will turn their focus to gaining an edge over San Clemente

and Laguna Hills for the Division I runner-up finish.

“I would love to get second in CIF,” LaMont said of his goals for this

season. “We would love to improve our dual meet record. I want to work

with some girls that will hopefully develop in the future.”

NEWPORT HARBOR GIRLS SWIMMING 2001

Alex Anderson So.

Jennifer Arrow Sr.

Erin Ball Sr.

Jessica Ball Fr.

Peggy Beebe So.

Katherine Belden Jr.

Carly Geehr Jr.

Hillary Karges So.

Paige Lansing So.

Nicole Mackey So.

Jenna Murphy So.

Ashley Parole So.

Hayley Peirsol So.

Mai Tajima So.