Boys swim: CdM makes splash in PCL prelims

CORONA DEL MAR - Corona del Mar High swimmers qualified first in

four of the eight individual events Tuesday, led by Sherwin Kim’s double,

in the Pacific Coast League boys swim preliminaries at CdM.

Kim qualified first for Friday’s league finals in the 100-yard

freestyle (50.01) and 200 individual medley (2:03.39), while teammates

James Strack (5:11.56 in the 500 free) and Matthew Meyer (1:53.50 in the

200 free) also touched first in the prelims.

CdM’s Brandon Powers and Michael March qualified fifth and sixth,

respectively, in both the 200 free and 500 free. Meyer also qualified

third in the 500 free (5:13.79).

In the 200 free, CdM sophomore Kevin Amendt broke two minutes for the

first time (1:59.87), then swam two seconds faster in a swim-off against

Northwood’s Clark Condict for the eighth and final championship lane.

CdM’s John Money and Garrett Bowlus qualified sixth and seventh,

respectively, in the 100 free, while teammates Strack, Marcello

Pantuliano and John Mann qualified fifth through seventh in the 200

individual medley.

Pantuliano also qualified second in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.13)

behind University freshman Evan Pham (1:02.69), while Costa Mesa senior

Mike Whitman qualified third in 1:08.04 and CdM’s Artie Dorr was eighth

(1:12.25). Whitman also qualified third in the 100 butterfly (59.43).

CdM’s Robert Messenger (1:01.13), Robert Fries (1:01.31) and Amendt (1:01.50) qualified fifth through seventh in the 100 fly. Messenger was

also fifth in the 50 free (23.75), followed by Money (23.91).

Earning berths in the championship finals for CdM in the 100

backstroke included Bowles (fourth in 1:00.86) and Fries (eighth in

1:03.21).

“Overall, I’m pleased with how they swam,” CdM Coach Tim Chaix said.

“We just need to move up in places and beat some people out. That’s what

Friday’s all about -- beating people.”

University has the inside track to the league title, but the Sea Kings

aren’t far behind, Chaix said.