Pirates on the cutting edge

Bryce Alderton

Dave Salo and Don Watson had a “meeting of the minds” so to speak

heading into the swim season.

The longtime OCC coaches got together and focused on recruiting,

and initially, it has paid dividends, especially for the women’s

team. Salo and Watson co-coach both the men’s and women’s swim teams

at Coast.

The OCC women blitzed all competition at the recent Mt. San

Antonio Invitational, posting 693 points to runner-up Riverside’s

524.5.

Coast freshman Sherry Tsai swam to meet records in the 50-yard

backstroke (26.38), 100 individual medley (58.29) and 100 butterfly

(57.44) as well as participating in three meet record swims with the

relay teams. OCC had record-setting relay teams in the 200 and 400

free, 1:40.24 and 3:39.17, respectively, along with posting a 4:01.74

in the 400 medley relay.

“In the past, we had a strong group of sophomores that would

return each year and had been down that road before,” said Watson,

who coached at Coast from 1981-98 before he returned this season

after going on sabbatical.

Coast has won 12 state titles the past 19 years.

“This year, Dave and I combined to put forth a stellar team that

has a tremendous amount of talent and an outstanding work ethic,”

Watson said.

Salo and Watson are assisted by Mike Giles, the head women’s water

polo coach.

Tsai, a member of Hong Kong’s national team, came to the U.S. to

train with the club team and wanted to go to school to improve her

English and finish her general education classes.

“We were lucky recipients of her,” Watson said.

Joining Tsai are returning sophomores Ashley Lowden, Jenny Nelson

and Stephanie Wood. All three qualified for the state championships

last year: Lowden in the 100 and 200 IM along with the 100 fly, with

Nelson competing in the 50 and 100 fly and the 100 IM. Wood qualified

in the 50 and 100 breaststroke.

The freshman class includes Kimberly Frith (Capistrano Valley

High), Sara Natalizio (Irvine) and Sarah Mitchell (Mission Viejo).

Frith won three events at Mt. Sac including the 100 free (54.19), 200

free (1:57.67) and 500 free (5:15.09), while participating on the

three record setting relay teams.

Natalizio won the 50 fly (27.55) and Mitchell went 1:02.68 to win

the 100 back.

Vanessa Lara, Heather Murphy, Nikki Stevens, Erica Nicholson, Kim

Doll, Shannon Maxfield, Amber Edoff, Rebecca Robb and Amber Brawley,

all freshmen, give Salo and Watson added strength in Coast’s quest

for its first title since 1997.

Diablo Valley, who won the championship last season, should

provide Coast’s toughest competition this season, according to

Watson, who said Riverside will be strong in the Orange Empire

Conference.

The Bucs, along with Diablo Valley, will be one of the 60 teams

competing in the Cuesta Invitational March 13-15 at Cuesta College in

San Luis Obispo.

Before that, OCC will face Fullerton in a dual meet Friday.

“We’re getting them in shape, preparing them for the challenges

that lie ahead,” said Watson, of his and Salo’s role as coaches. “The

number of events they swim at the NCAA level are more than double

what they were used to doing in high school. We seek out competition,

which forces them to swim in adverse conditions and respond to

challenges.”