Senioritis dominates the Sailors’ swim season

Bryce Alderton

The ascension of members of Newport Harbor High’s girls swim team has

picked up steam, and now contains a full tank of fuel ready for one

last journey in the prep ranks.

Three swimmers set Harbor records last season, which culminated in

a fourth-place finish in the CIF Southern Section Division I finals.

Sea View League counterpart Irvine took the CIF title for the second

consecutive year.

Fifth-year Harbor coach Ken LaMont believes Irvine will be the

team to beat again in Division I, along with an up-and-coming Villa

Park squad, but he has some weapons of his own.

Among those LaMont returns include seniors Hayley Peirsol, Nicole

Mackey, Mai Tajima and Ashley Parole.

Peirsol, the younger sister of world champion Aaron Peirsol, was

second in the 500 free (4:45.4, a school record) and third in the 200

free at last spring’s CIF finals. Then, in the summer, she won the

800 free at the Janet Evans Invitational (8:39.75) and finished

second in the 800 free in August at the Phillips 66 National

Championships. She will attend Auburn University next fall.

“I don’t know if there is anyone in Orange County who can beat

(Peirsol) in the 500 free,” LaMont said.

Mackey swam to two runner-up finishes in the 200 individual medley

(2:02.60) and the 100 butterfly (55.87), both school records, at last

season’s CIF finals.

Mackey and Peirsol, along with Parole and Tajima, finished third

in the 400-meter freestyle relay (3:33.42) at last spring’s CIF

finals.

Peirsol, Mackey and Tajima form a potent team in the 200 free

relay, according to LaMont, who said he has been blessed with a fast

team.

Among Newport’s 14 seniors also includes Alex Andersen, Peggy

Beebe, Annmarie Harvey, Hillary Karges, Bryndis Klein, Paige Lansing,

Tiffany Manderino, Jenna Murphy, Raelyn Ritchie, Jennifer Scharfe and

Annie Wight. Three juniors (Jessica Ball, Carolyn Conway and Katie

Erickson, along with sophomore Anne Belden), give Newport depth.

LaMont figures swimmers like Peirsol and Mackey will miss some

meets because they will instead compete in national events, so the

added numbers will help during those times.

Erickson and Belden were both swimmers on junior varsity last

season, and bring strength in the butterfly and free, respectively.

Murphy is versatile, swimming in the IM, backstroke and free,

while Wight sprints in the 50 free, LaMont said.

The school record in the 50 free was set in 1995 by Melissa

Schutz, the oldest Harbor record still standing.

“We may have a shot at breaking the 50 free this year,” LaMont

said. “The girls are so fast and so strong. I’ve gotten lucky the

last four years to see these girls improve.”