Locals laud addition of Masters Meet

Masters swim meet reaxCorona del Mar coach, top swimmers are excited about new event to determine swimming’s best of the best. In 21 seasons as the girls’ swim coach at Corona del Mar High, Doug Volding heard repeated speculation about the CIF Southern Section adding an all-division Masters Meet to its postseason.

But, as nothing came of it, he eventually gave up hope.

So he said he was completely surprised to learn Friday that a Masters Meet, to be held next spring, gained approval from the CIF Southern Section council on Thursday.

“I’m excited and my girls are really excited about it,” Volding said. “It’s something to look forward to.”

Volding said junior Stephanie Gabert and senior Lexie Shue are particularly pumped about the possibility of competing for the title of the best in the Southern Section.

The Masters concept, already utilized in track and field and wrestling, brings together top qualifiers from all Southern Section divisions. In both those sports, it is also a qualifying event for state championships.

There are no state championships in swimming, but some believe a Masters Meet could pave the way for such an event.

Gabert set the Division II record last season in the 100-yard breaststroke (1 minute, 2.71 seconds) and also won the Division II title in the 200 individual medley.

Shue was second in the 500 freestyle (2:44.13) at the Division II finals and was sixth in the 200 free.

Both Sea Kings contributed to CdM victories in the 200 medley and 400 free relays, the latter in a Division II record 1:48.59.

Other Newport-Mesa standouts are likely to contend for berths in the Masters Meet, though qualifying details have not been determined.

Southern Section spokesperson Thom Simmons said organizers have discussed having the meet on the Tuesday following the last of four section finals meets on Saturday. But the date has not been set.

“The top kids could easily recover and be at their best in three days, if that were the case,” Volding said.

Other locals who have shown Masters-level ability include Newport Harbor senior Dan Furman, Costa Mesa junior Kyle Thorsness, Estancia sophomore Shea Kopp, Corona del Mar sophomore Yaturo Yamashita, Newport Harbor junior Kayley Oka, Costa Mesa sophomore James Fowler and Corona del Mar sophomore Danielle Lavery.

Furman was second in the 50 free at the Division I finals last season. His winning time of 21.18 bettered the automatic All-American standard.

Thorsness was fourth in Division III in the 50 and 100 free and was also on the winning 400 free relay that included Fowler.

Yamashita was fourth in the 200 free and seventh in the 500 free at the Division II finals.

Kopp was fourth in the 100 backstroke and fifth in the 100 free at the Division III girls’ finals.

Oka was fifth in the 100 butterfly in Division II.

Lavery was on both winning relays for the CdM girls, who have finished in the top two in Division II team standings the last three seasons, including the program’s first CIF championship in 2004. 20060125itmjigncMARK DUSTIN / DAILY PILOT(LA)Corona del Mar’s Stephanie Gabert is one local swimmer who stands to benefit from the CIF Southern Section’s new Masters Meet in swimming.