Estancia girls seek perfection

Chris Yemma

A simmering pool of perfection has begun to boil at Estancia High,

and it has a little something to do with the girls swim team being on

fire.

The Eagles added a 20th consecutive dual-meet victory with a

111-59 Golden West League dismantling of visiting Saddleback

Wednesday to remain unbeaten this season and 20-0 in these events

since last year. The boys were less fortunate, losing, 117-52.

On the girls side the talent pool doesn’t appear to be evaporating

any time soon, as freshmen school records have been falling left and

right.

“This is by far the strongest team we’ve had,” fifth-year coach

Bob Bandaruk said. “Probably even since the school started, who

knows.”

But despite going undefeated in league dual meets last season, the

Eagles (8-0, 4-0 in league) lost to Costa Mesa in the league finals

for the crown. This year, it is playing out to be Estancia’s best

chance of claiming the league title.

With this crop of talent, though, goals have been set higher than

just a league title, as Estancia has already beaten its crosstown

rival and biggest league threat this season.

“We’re looking to place high at CIF [Southern Section Division

III],” Bandaruk said. “We’re looking beyond league and into CIF now.

I think we’ve gotten to that point where that’s what we need to do.”

A major factor of the team’s success this season has been brought

about by the youth. Freshmen Meagan Kunert and Shea Kopp have

combined for countless points for the Eagles throughout the season,

and will be a focal point of the team for years to come.

Kunert won the 200-yard individual medley Wednesday in 2:23.62 and

the 100 butterfly in a CIF qualifying time of 1:06.08. Kopp won the

100 free (57.75) and 100 back (1:03.87), while both swam legs on the

winning 200 medley relay and 400 free relay teams.

Kunert was pleased with herself, but her outlook was bigger than

just one meet.

“It was a pretty good day for me,” Kunert said. “I maintained in

my butterfly and dropped a second in my 200 IM, but I want to keep

dropping my times for CIF. I also want to place first at league

finals.”

Estancia’s league race and beyond is also going to be aided by

junior captains Carolina Barnes and Katie Mahan, as well as sophomore

Sydney Barloon.

Barnes won the 50 free (27.53) and was on the 200 medley relay and

400 free relay teams while Mahan finished second in the 100 breast

(1:21.38). Barnes was also second in the 100 free (1:01.94).

Barloon, who was a second-place league finisher last season in the

100 free, swam on both winning relay teams and finished second in the

200 free (2:21.48) and 50 free (27.62).

Kunert’s older brother, Chad, led the plunge for the Estancia boys

(3-5, 2-2), despite swimming with a severely sprained right index

finger he injured earlier in the day playing basketball.

With two fingers taped together, he won the 200 free (1:59.31) and

500 free (5:15.5) while also swimming on the 400 free relay team,

which finished second to Saddleback.

“Considering he had a broken finger, he swam really well,”

Estancia Coach John Carpenter said. “He swam the 500 as well as he

did against Costa Mesa.

“He’s a very big asset to the team. Not only just in his swimming,

but in his leadership. He’s one of the team captains and he sets the

standard for everyone else.”

The defending league champion in the 200 and 500 free, Kunert

finished 11th in the Division III section championships last year at

Belmont Plaza in a personal-best 5:04.18.

Kunert has, and will, contend in the distance events. “In terms of

workout ethic, he sets the standard,” Carpenter said. “He’s very

mature and level-headed, adding stability to the team, which I really

like.”

Kunert was aided Wednesday by junior sprinter Andrew Fassari, a

transfer from Newport Harbor.

Fassari won the 100 free in 53.05 and the 100 back in 1:02.78.

Junior Devon Mellin won third in the 200 IM in 2:39.31 and the 100

fly in 1:18.73.

But Saddleback claimed first in all three relays and four of the

individual events to claim the meet in convincing fashion.

“I would say it was an average day for us,” Carpenter said. “There

were no real, great outstanding times and I don’t think there were

any CIF qualifiers today.”