Dolphins take back title by edging rival

LAKE FOREST — Ted Bandaruk sat in the shade at the El Toro High pool, forming a semi-circle with the rest of his Harbor View Swim Team coaching staff.

Bandaruk, in his 31st year as the Dolphins’ coach, had earned the right to sit after standing near the starting blocks much of the day, clapping loudly for the Harbor View swimmers during Saturday’s South Coast Swim Conference finals.

His swimmers, in turn, earned the applause, winning the championship at the league finals after Green Valley dethroned the Dolphins last year.

Harbor View saw a small lead in the beginning of the meet widen as the day went on, finishing with 1,752.5 combined points. Neighborhood rival Newport Hills, which had gone 6-0 in conference dual meets plus won the relay finals, finished second at league finals with 1,631.5 points.

“We’ve definitely had our share [of championships],” said Bandaruk, who estimated his team had about a 20-year streak going before it was snapped last year. “It’s a fun league; the competition in this league is real good. Green Valley had a great year last year, and they got us. Newport Hills had a real good year this year, and they made us work.

“They made us earn it. Without the competition, there is no swim meet.”

Harbor View won five of 12 age groups: the 6-and-under boys, 9-10 girls, 13-14 boys and girls and 15-18 girls. The Dolphins also set two team records, with Jules Pouch in the 11-12 girls’ 50-yard freestyle (27.55 seconds) and Matt Berry in the 13-14 boys’ 100 free (53.93).

Pippa Saunders, part of the winning 13-14 girls’ group, certainly did her part. She had three top-three individual finishes, including winning the 50 breast, and was also part of a winning medley relay team also consisting of Anna Venturini, Sarah Craig and Lauren Marks.

“I think we did really good,” Saunders said. “It’s good that we’ve been in the lead for awhile, but Newport Hills this year, they’ve been catching up to us. It’s a good rivalry. I’m always nervous, but Coach Ted thought we could pull it off.”

Ari Marks, who won the boys’ 13-14s 50 back for Harbor View and was second in the IM, said losing to Newport Hills on June 12 at the Dolphins’ own pool provided motivation.

“I was pretty mad because we’d never lost to Newport Hills before,” Marks said. “That made me want to swim harder. I got a personal-best in all my races, so I’m pretty happy.”

Sisters Jules and Delaney Pouch also dominated the girls’ 11-12 age group for Harbor View, combining for six top-three finishes, including a 50 back win for Delaney.

For Newport Hills, it capped what was still a great season. The Killer Whales took home the perpetual South Coast Swim Conference Cup for going a perfect 6-0 in dual meets.

“We just have a very young team; we just were lacking some swimmers in the upper age groups,” Newport Hills Coach Michelle Dienzo said. “It’s going to take some time to build the team. But that’s OK, we have a lot of spirit and the kids are having a lot of fun. That’s what it’s all about.”

The Killer Whales set two SCSC finals records in the meet-opening medley relays. The 9-10 boys’ 100 medley relay team of Taylor Cortens, Danny Robertson, Brett Greenlee, Matt McKinnon set the record in 1 minute, 2.85 seconds. Also, the 11-12 boys’ 200 medley team of Blake Motal, Nick Furgatch, Christian Garkani and Richie Barden set a meet record with its time of 2:05.00.

“Me, Blake and Nick have already broken the [team] medley record a couple of times,” said Garkani, who also won the 11-12 boys’ 50 fly and 50 back. “This is Richie’s first time.”

“We won because I came,” Barden added with a smile.

Taylor Cortens also stood out for Newport Hills, winning the 9-10 boys’ 25 fly, 50 back and 100 individual medley. Mary Flynn, headed to Notre Dame, set a team record in the 15-18 girls’ 100 IM, finishing in 1:03.43.

“It is nice,” Dienzo said facing Harbor View. “They bring our swimmers to a higher level, because they know how fast [the Dolphins] are. Ted’s been coaching for a very long time and he’s done a lot with that team.

“It’s neat, because they’re all friends and they live in the same neighborhood.”

MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.