Sea Kings finish second

Rick Devereux

It was a record-setting day in the Belmont Plaza pool Saturday, as

the Corona del Mar High girls swim team set six school marks and the

Sea Kings finished as runners-up in CIF Southern Section Division II

to Pacific Coast League rival University, 252-248.

CdM’s 248 points were 10 more than last year when the Sea Kings

won the division title, but a strong Uni team was too much. The

Trojans finished fourth in the division last year with 185 1/2

points.

“In many ways this is more rewarding [than last year’s

championship],” Coach Doug Volding said. “We were so far behind after

the seedings, but this team didn’t roll over. We just kept coming and

coming. Uni is a great team, but I also consider this a great team.”

The Sea Kings were CIF champions in four events, including the

200-yard medley relay, which they won in 1:48.59 for a new Division

II record.

“I think that set the tone for the rest of the meet,” Voulding

said. “I knew from that event that it was going to come right down to

the wire with Uni.”

Stephanie Gabert, who swam the breaststroke portion of the medley

relay, also won the 200 individual medley (1:53.36) and 100 breaststroke (1:02.71). She also swam the anchor leg of the 400

freestyle relay, which won in 3:32.91.

“I’m so proud of myself,” she said. “I think the whole team did

really well the whole year, but we really swam great [in the

finals].”

Gabert’s time in the 100 breaststroke broke the Division II record

she set in Thursday’s qualifying meet.

School records were set in the 200 medley relay, 400 free relay,

Gabert’s 100 breaststroke and 200 IM, as well as Lexie Shue’s

sixth-place finish in the 200 free (1:53.36) and the third-place 200

free relay (1:39.05).

Shue’s performance Saturday was all the more remarkable

considering she is not in top shape. The junior has been back in the

water for about two and a half weeks after missing three weeks due to

a car accident. Plus she’s getting over a cold.

“I’m not at my peak level right now,” she said. “I was just trying

to get us some points so we could beat Uni.”

She also finished second in the 500 free (2:44.13), swam the

second leg of the 200 free relay and the third leg of the 400 free

relay.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Voulding said. “I’m going to

miss our senior captains Jordan Anae and Ann Winners. They really

mean a lot to our program and this team, but we have a lot of

swimmers returning and should contend [for the title] again next

season.”

Anae led off the 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay, as well

as finished sixth in the 100 backstroke (1:00.17). Winners swam the

third leg of the 200 free relay.

Other CdM contributors included Ashley Chandler, who swam the

anchor in the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay, Danielle Lavery,

who swam the third leg of the 200 medley relay and finished seventh

in the 100 butterfly (59.34), and Tumua Anae, who led off the 200

free relay and finished fifth in the 50 free (24.46).

“The whole team did really well, especially since we made up a lot

of points,” Tumua Anae said. “Uni is a really tough team and we

should be real proud of how we swam and how close we came [to winning

the Division II title].”

The CdM boys also competed Saturday.

Freshman Yaturo Yamashita finished fourth in the 200 free

(1:43.61) and seventh in the 500 free (4:44.31).

“I was excited, but I was also nervous,” Yamashita said.

The jitters apparently helped Yamashita to swim fast.

“Both times were personal bests for him,” Coach Matt Flesher said.

“He swam well. For him to swim the 200 and then come back and swim

the 500 like he did - he’s the man.”

Brian Buhagiar improved on his 16th qualifying time of 56.24

Thursday to finish 10th Saturday in 55.11, and Buhagiar, Yamashita,

Jacob Murphy and Tom Money finished 13th in the 200 medley relay

(1:42.89).

But the day belonged to the girls, especially the record-setting

200 medley relay team.

“It feels so good,” Lavery said of setting the Division II record.

“I was just going as fast as I could. It feels great to beat Uni

because they beat us at [the league finals last week].”

The Trojans edged out CdM, 88-82, in the league finals May 6.

Chandler also finished 10th in the 50 free (25.00) and 13th in the

100 free (55.12). Jordan Anae was 11th in the 100 free (54.27 and

Tumua Anae was 12th in the 100 breaststroke (1:09.80). Lavery also

finished 13th in the 200 free (1:57.53).