CdM girls aim to repeat

Chris Yemma

Since coming aboard as Corona del Mar High’s girls swim coach more

than two decades ago, it was Doug Volding’s ultimate goal to win a

CIF championship.

This season, Volding is one meet away from grabbing his second

Southern Section Division II title, as the Sea Kings captured the

long-awaited crown last season after a runner-up showing in 2003.

“It was a thrill to win the first one,” Volding said Thursday at

the Division II preliminaries at Belmont Plaza, where the Sea Kings

qualified in nine championship finals (the top eight qualifiers),

scheduled Saturday at 4 p.m. at the same venue.

“It’s so hard to [win back-to-back titles], I can’t even think

about that right now.”

Corona del Mar aquatics has been known more for its success in

water polo over the years, but swimming, particularly the girls

program, has begun to climb the ranks, as well, in recent years.

The girls water polo team has won four consecutive CIF titles,

while last season, the school completed the aquatic trifecta --

winning a CIF water polo title, winning the CIF swim relays and the

section swim finals.

This season could present another triple crown for the Sea Kings,

who have already achieved the first two requirements.

And with sophomore Stephanie Gabert and junior Lexie Shue leading

the push, CdM has a legitimate chance to win Saturday’s championship.

These two led the way Thursday at the preliminaries.

The defending Division II champion and record holder in the

100-yard breaststroke, Gabert broke the record she set last year with

a career-best of 1 minute, 2.99 seconds to qualify first.

Winning a second consecutive triple crown is a goal of Gabert’s.

“It would be awesome,” she said following her record-breaking

race. “I think we have a really good chance again this year. If

everyone does their best and works hard, we can do it.”

Gabert qualified first in the 200 individual medley (2:06.50),

while also contributing to the 200 medley and 400 free relay teams

that posted the top qualifying marks.

Joining Gabert on the 200 medley relay were Jordan Anae, Danielle

Lavery and Ashley Chandler.

Others in the 400 free relay were Anae, Lavery and Shue.

But this year’s Division II team race could parallel the Pacific

Coast League finals, in which University upset CdM.

“Every single girl will have to do their best if we’re going to

pull this off,” Volding said. “I just want to be in the hunt. Uni is

pretty powerful.”

Shue qualified eighth in the 200 free (1:55.07) Thursday, while

Tumua Anae earned the No. 6 spot in the 50 free (24.81).

Jordan Anae qualified eighth in the 200 back (1:00.45) and Lavery

qualified fifth in the 100 butterfly (59.03).

Freshman Yaturo Yamashita was the lone championship final

qualifier for the CdM boys, earning the No. 5 spot in the 200 free

(1:44.92) and seventh in the 500 free (4:44.49).

Chandler qualified ninth in the 50 free (25.09) and 12th in the

100 free (54.37).

Jordan Anae (11th in the 100 free), Lavery (12th in the 200 free)

and Tumua Anae (15th in the 100 breaststroke) will also swim in

consolation finals for CdM.

Brian Buhagiar qualified 16th in the 100 back, while two CdM boys

relays also qualified for consolation finals.