Girl’s swimming preview: Second to none?

Amara Aguilar

This time around, the Corona del Mar High girls swim team aims to

be second to none.

CdM Coach Doug Volding will call upon senior captains Heather Hapeman

and Jessica Fries to lead a deep squad as the Sea Kings, who finished

behind Pacific Coast League champion University last year, get set to

dive into a new season.

“They are two seniors I can call upon to do all the strokes,” Volding

said. “They are very talented.”

Volding’s Sea Kings also field a string of juniors with plenty of

experience. Brittney Bowlus, Niki Hendrickson and Christina Hewko will

help anchor the team. Bowlus (200-yard freestyle), Hendrickson (200

individual medley and 100 butterfly) and Hewko (50 free and 100 free)

qualified for CIF in their respective events last season.

Leading the sophomores on CdM’s squad will be last year’s MVP, Kim

McKay, the league champion in the ho won the 500 free last year. Vivian

Liao will also be a key second-year swimmer.

“Vivian is maybe our top sprinter and Kim, she’s just talented in

everything,” Volding said. “Like the two captains, she can do it all.”

One of the Sea Kings’ top prospects is Jordan Anae, who also swims for

the AquaZots. She will help compensate for a couple holes in the line up.

The Sea Kings are without one swimmer, Jackie McCoy, who has a torn ACL.

“We’ve lost her for quite some time,” Volding said. “The injury

happened during the early part of basketball season, so it looks like we

lost one of our top breaststrokers.”

In addition to losing a swimmer to injury, Volding also lost a key

athlete to graduation. Last year’s captain, Lauren Powers, is gone.

“I miss her leadership and talent very much,” Volding said. “So,

hopefully, Jordan will try to take over there. We have a lot of returning

swimmers. Junior and senior leadership will be a big plus.”

Despite his losses, Volding expects the team to be a contender for the

league championship.

“It looks like we are going to be a real competitive team,” Volding

said. “If we could get Jackie back by the end of the season, that would

be great. University has a strong team like last year, but the Trojans

lost their best swimmer, Jessica Hayes. It will be competitive with

University and Northwood. It’s going to be a tough league.”

CdM begins the season with a nonleague home meet against Capistrano

Valley March 8 at 3:15 p.m.

Corona del Mar girls swimming

Jordan Anae Fr.

Brittney Bowlus Jr.

Danielle Carlson Jr.

Katya Eadington So.

Daniela DiGiacomo Jr.

Jessica Fries Sr.

Heather Hapeman Sr.

Jessica Harkins Jr.

Niki Hendrickson Jr.

Christina Hewko Jr.

Kelli Kline Jr.

Katharine Lemmerman Fr.

Vivian Liao So.

Lauren McAdams Fr.

Jackie McCoy Jr.

Kim McKay So.

Julie Mendelson Sr.

Alexa Miller Sr.

Florentine Rodenhuis So.

Hayley Sheetz Sr.

Samantha Singh Fr.

Elizabeth Strack So.

Natalie Wayte So.

Yvette Zaharson Sr.

Coach: Doug Volding