Prep swimming preview: Eagles on the clock

Amara Aguilar

Time improvement will be the name of the game for the Estancia High

boys and girls swimming teams this season.

Both coaches realize the competition in the Pacific Coast League is

tough, but believe if swimmers make strides personally, the Eagles will

have a successful season.

“In the Pacific Coast League, realistically, we’re looking to give

everyone a good competition,” boys coach John Carpenter said. “Corona del

Mar is head and shoulders above the rest, but we will look to do well

against every team. We are looking for time improvement every year.”

Last season, the Estancia boys squad posted one win in league, a

triumph over Costa Mesa.

This season, returners include sophomore Paul Collier, junior Frank

Gamboa, sophomore David Silva, senior Tai Thai, junior Skipper Todd,

sophomore Ananth Varma and junior Jess Hellmich.

Newcomers include sophomore Nathan Marsteller and Anthony Herman. Both

will contribute in the 100-yard breaststroke.

“We’re still a pretty young team,” Carpenter said. “If you look at our

roster, there’s only one senior, so we’re a young team. But many of the

sophomores this year have varsity experience, so that helps.”

On the girls side, key returners include Diana Kopasek and Lauren

Collier, who swam in the CIF consolation finals in the 200 free and 100

free last season. The Eagles lost some experienced swimmers in Somer

Flaherty and Jennifer Cassity.

“Everybody is fairly equal,” girls coach Bob Bandaruk said. “It’s

tough in our league, swimming against Corona del Mar, Laguna and

University, which all have major club swimmers. It’s hard to say we are

going to do well, but as long as (our swimmers) improve, they will do

well.”

Even though Bandaruk isn’t exactly counting on his team to contend for

a league title, he does expect to do better than last year’s last-place

finish.

“I think we’ll improve,” Bandaruk said. “Our focus is straight time

improvement. If winning comes, that’s not what I’m worrying about. A lot

of girls are learning their strokes. They are all working hard and have a

lot more enthusiasm than last year.”

Estancia boys swimming roster

John Bates So.

Paul Collier So.

Jonathan Diaz Fr.

Frank Gamboa Jr.

Sean Goodman Fr.

Jess Hellmich Jr.

Anthony Herman So.

Greg Johnson So.

Nathan Marsteller So.

Richard McElveny Fr.

Matthew Metkovitch Fr.

David Silva So.

Tai Thai Sr.

Skipper Todd Jr.

Ananth Varma Sr.

Coach: John Carpenter

Estancia girls swimming roster

Jessie Adams Jr.

Sarah Ahmed Jr.

Sara Elizabeth Anaruma Jr.

Jordanne Bradshaw Fr.

Lauren Calderon Jr.

Elise Carroll Fr.

Lauren Collier Sr.

Jayme Fay Jr.

Jessica Fernandez Jr.

Heather Fraiser Fr.

Malinda Hallock Fr.

Courtney Hess Fr.

Lihini Keenawinna Jr.

Arwyn Knott So.

Diana Kopasek Sr.

Lauren Mahan So.

Araceli Morales Sr.

Britta Pitti So.

Marilyn Reich So.

Lucy Rodriguez Jr.

Farrell Roth So.

Amarya Thaler Fr.

Julia Torres Sr.

Coach: Bob Bandaruk