HIGH SCHOOL SWIM PREVIEW: Edman goes the distance

Costa Mesa High senior Sam Edman has always had the swimming ability.

Ever since his sophomore year, Edman has been one of the top swimmers in the Golden West League, and now the Orange Coast League, for the Mustangs. Edman is strong in both the 200-yard freestyle and 500 free, and he wants to make it to the CIF Southern Section Division II finals in both events this year.

But although he has always had the ability, Mesa swim coach Patty Smith said she’s noticed a difference in his self-confidence lately.

For the past two years, Edman has played for the El Toro-based SET water polo club team. Initially, he wasn’t sure if he could stand the competition.

“He didn’t think he was going to make it,” Smith said. “He not only made the team, but he made the best team, the traveling team, playing with some of the best water polo players in Southern California. That helped his self-confidence a lot.”

He’s carried it over to swimming, where Edman wants to defend his league titles in the 200 and 500 free this season. Two years ago, he finished second in both events at the Golden West League finals to then-Estancia senior Chad Kunert, but Edman’s times have only gotten faster.

His personal-best in the 200 free is 1:46.40, Edman said, while in the 500 free it’s 4:56.73. Last year, he was 17th in the CIF Southern Section Division II preliminaries in the 200 free; his goal this year is to be top eight to advance to the championship race.

“[Finishing second in league as a sophomore] was pretty motivating,” Edman said. “That helped me realize I’m a pretty good swimmer, that I almost beat a senior as a sophomore. I wasn’t going to let losing to him get me down. I always wanted to get better, faster.

“I think that if [Kunert] were to come back and swim me now, he’d be a little bit surprised.”

Edman infuses playfulness into the Mustangs, Smith said, with his wry sense of humor. But he doesn’t go too overboard. He realizes he’s a team leader, and it’s a job he said he takes seriously, along with fellow seniors Skyler Twohig and James Fowler.

“He’s a quiet leader on the team,” Smith said. “He leads by example. When something happens, he’s not the one to speak up, to get the team excited. But if [his teammates] strike up a conversation with him, he’ll speak his mind. He’s a great kid. He’s one of those guys who will always pitch in, to help set up or take down [equipment] any time I need an extra body.”

After swimming for the Mustangs his freshman year, Edman said he took some advice from Mesa boys’ athletic director Tim Postiff, the former boys’ swim coach. Edman swam club for a while at Golden West.

“That’s where I think I got most of my basic training, as far as stroke work,” Edman said. “Ms. Smith has just been perfecting it, making it better, helping me get the stroke down.”

It’s a relatively painless process, Smith said.

“Every set I give him, he swims it exactly the way I told him to swim it,” she said. “He doesn’t ease up on a couple of the repeats, to be able to finish the set. It’s an extremely hard workout. There will be days he comes to practice where he doesn’t feel good at all, and he still swims and you couldn’t even tell he was sick.”

That kind of dedication has the Mustangs looking to repeat as Orange Coast League champions. Last year, they were never really challenged in league.

Edman wants to continue to swim and play water polo in college, he said. In water polo, the driver was a first-team All-Orange Coast League selection this past fall.

But Edman isn’t one of those water polo players who sees swimming as just a necessary evil.

“I think they go hand in hand,” he said. “You need polo for swim, and you need swim for polo. I try hard in both. You need the polo training to stay in shape for swim, and during the swim season you get your stroke down, which makes you faster for polo. That’s how I look at it.

“To each his own. I enjoy swimming; I think it’s fun.”

BOYS

CORONA DEL MAR

Coach:Barry O’Dea (third year)

2007 record: 4-1, 4-0 in Pacific Coast League (league champions); eighth at CIF Division I championships.

Key returners: Yutaro Yamashita (Sr., 200 free, fly); Chris Cottrell (Sr., 200 IM, back); Michael Liao (So., 100 breast, IM); Evan Zepfel (Sr., distance free).

Key newcomers: John Kim (Fr., breast, IM); Garrett Larson (Fr., breast); Carter Taylor (Jr., free); Matt Berry (Fr., sprint free); Brian Schiefer (Jr., sprint free); Isle Anderson (So., breast, IM); Justin Papa (So., fly, back); Chris Wigley (Jr., distance free).

Key dates: at home vs. Laguna Hills, April 16.

Outlook: The Sea Kings are 2-1 in league, and the meet against Laguna Hills is their last before league finals. CdM boasts one of the top overall swimmers in the county in Yamashita, and Liao, Kim and Larson combine to give the Sea Kings a very strong presence in the 100 breast. Liao and Kim have combined to break the CdM 100 breast record three times already this season.

“We have a really strong team,” O’Dea said. “I think we can finish better in CIF than we did last year. We want to get someone qualified for CIF in each event.”

COSTA MESA

Coach: Patty Smith (third year)

2007 record: 3-0 in Orange Coast League, league champions.

Key returners: Sam Edman (Sr., distance free); Skyler Twohig (Sr., fly, 50 free); James Fowler (Sr., sprint free); Travis Wright (Jr., IM, breast); Cody Serrano (Jr., back, 100 free); Dustin Serrano (Jr., distance free); Jackson O’Connor (So., back, fly); Joey Dinh (So., fly); Chingiz Bigalimov (So. IM, breast)

Key newcomers: Jordan Lux (So., sprint free)

Key dates: at home against Calvary Chapel, April 14; at Laguna Beach, April 22.

Outlook: After winning the Golden West League title two years ago, the Mustang boys breezed through the Orange Coast League last year. They are again the favorite, having won every event against Estancia on April 1.

Edman is looking for a good CIF finish in the 200 free, while the Serrano brothers also want to qualify for CIF as individuals for the first time, Smith said.

“They’re faster at this time this year than they were at this time last year,” Smith said. “Most of them have posted, right now, lifetime-best times, and they’ll drop another three or four seconds at least.”

ESTANCIA

Coach: John Carpenter (29th year)

2007 record: third in Orange Coast League

Key returners: Jeff Crosson (Sr., 100 free, back); Frankie Gonzalez (Sr., distance free); Tyler Wayman (Sr., sprint free); Ramin Tasbihchi (Sr., free); Josh Young (Sr., IM).

Key newcomers: Wes Barloon (Jr., IM, breast); Asher Twardowski (Fr., distance free).

Key dates: home vs. Laguna Beach, April 15; home vs. Calvary Chapel, April 22.

Outlook: Crosson is a leader for the Eagles, who have many of their top swimmers, also including Wayman and Young, from the boys’ water polo team that Carpenter also coaches. Crosson finished second in league in the 100 back last season, and third in the 200 IM.

Barloon has been a nice addition for Estancia, too. Previously, he had run track for the Eagles in the spring, but now he’s excelling in the individual medley and breaststroke.

NEWPORT HARBOR

Coach: Jason Lynch (seventh year)

2007 record: 1-4 in Sunset League dual meets, won Sunset League finals (second overall)

Key returners: Clinton Jorth (Sr., sprint free, IM); Colin McKibbin (Sr., distance free); Brandon Parole (Sr., distance free); Myles Christian (Sr., fly, IM); Spencer Richley (Sr., sprint free); Andy Hayes (Jr., fly, breast); Zach Osadche (Jr., back); David Linden (Jr., fly, sprint free); Matt Russell (So., back); Hunter Owen (Sr., breast).

Key newcomers: Blake Kelly (So., sprint free); Zach Lucas (So., distance free); Rush Stevens (Sr., sprint free); Jimmy Burger (Sr., back).

Key dates: at home vs. Fountain Valley, April 9; at home vs. Los Alamitos, April 15; at Marina, April 22.

Outlook: Newport Harbor won the league championship meet last year and finished second overall. The Sailors are also looking strong this year, bolstered by many of the swimmers who helped the boys’ water polo team win the CIF Southern Section Division I title in the fall.

Newport Harbor has already beaten Corona del Mar, Esperanza and Edison in its first three meets of the season.

“Last year, we had 11 total guys qualify for CIF,” Lynch said. “We should get 11 or 12 this year if things go well. We have a pretty good group returning. We train a lot of freestyle, and we’re trying to develop the stroke guys. I’m looking form them to peak at [league championships] and try to hang on for CIF.”

SAGE HILL

Coach: Cari Knowlton and Abby Zern (second year)

2007 record: 2-0-1 in Academy League (won league); ninth at CIF Southern Section Division IV finals.

Key returners: Beau Caillouette (Sr., freestyle); Andrew Dorne (So., distance free, fly, IM); Nick Wan (Jr., back, IM); Jake Blitzer (So., fly, breast, IM); Ryan Barth (Sr., free, breast).

Key newcomers: Danny Harold (Sr., breast).

Key dates: at Oxford, April 9; at home vs. St. Margaret’s and Saddleback Valley Christian, April 11; at Whitney, April 24.

Outlook: Sage Hill is undefeated so far this season, but hasn’t faced any of its league opponents yet. But the Lightning should make a strong push for another league title.

They return most of last year’s team, along with the addition of the water polo goalie, Harold, who Knowlton called “a huge help.”

“He’s a super-hard worker, super discipline, and it shows,” Knowlton said. “At a school as small as we are, the team is pretty strong. [League] could go any way. Everybody has to perform to win, which is kind of how it should be.”

GIRLS

CORONA DEL MAR

Coach: Doug Volding (23rd year)

2007 record: 3-0-1 in Pacific Coast League (second place); seventh at CIF Southern Section Division I championships

Key returners: Sarah Furgatch (Jr., 200 free, IM); Kelsey Larson (Jr. , distance free, IM); Heather Van Hiel (Jr., sprint free); Allison Peotter (Sr., back); Elise Molnar (Jr., free breast); Carissa Dice (Sr., distance free); Kate Berry (Jr., IM, free); Erica Wheeler (Jr., back, free); Erin McAdams (Jr., back, free); Victoria Kent (So., fly); Margot Money (So., fly); Victoria Kennedy (Jr., free).

Key newcomers: Nicky Lagle (Fr., fly); Devon Greenlee (Fr., sprint free).

Key dates: at home vs. Laguna Hills, April 16.

Outlook: CdM is 2-1 in league so far, but University is the heavy favorite to repeat as league champions. The Sea Kings boast a strong, if young, team, with just two main seniors in Dice and Peotter.

Furgatch and Larson, who both swim club for Irvine AquaZots, have already qualified with six CIF Southern Section Division I times between them.

“We’re not a senior-driven team like we were last year,” Volding said. “But from the CIF standpoint, we’re racking up [placement times], which is good.”

COSTA MESA

Coach: Patty Smith (third year)

2007 record: 2-1 in Orange Coast League, league champions.

Key returners: Talhia Nuñez (Sr., 500 free, IM); Patricia Marty (Sr., back, fly); Andrea Beyaoju (Jr., fly, IM); Liz Simpson (Jr., 100 free); Caitlin Black (Jr., sprint free, back); Briana Williams (Jr., 200 free, breast); Lauryn Randall (Jr., back); Ashley Rendon (Jr., 200 free); Maria Mendoza (So., sprint free); Kayci Decker (So., sprint free, breast); Hannah Speer (So., breast).

Key newcomers: Sydney Rosello (Fr., back).

Key dates: at home against Calvary Chapel, April 14; at Laguna Beach, April 22.

Outlook: Costa Mesa, Estancia and Laguna Beach each dropped a league dual meet last year, but the Mustangs stormed to the win at the league championships.

They are probably again the favorites, Smith said, after beating Estancia for the second straight year.

“They’ve just been so receptive with the yardage,” she said. “I’ve cranked it up, they take it and they work really hard. I constantly compliment them on how their hard work is going to pay off. When they swim in a meet and they see it pay off, they just want to get back in and start working hard again.”

ESTANCIA

Coach: Bob Bandaruk (eighth year)

2007 record: third in Orange Coast League

Key returners: Shea Kopp (Sr., 100 back, IM, 100 free); Meagan Kunert (Sr., distance free); Taylor Carpenter (Sr., breast); Amber Peters (Jr., fly, breast); Tyler Andrews (Jr., distance free).

Key newcomers: Haley Kunert (Fr., sprint free, back); Kylie Carpenter (Fr., sprint free).

Key dates: home vs. Laguna Beach, April 15; home vs. Calvary Chapel, April 22.

Outlook: The Eagles found their first year in the Orange Coast League last season tough, as their 42 dual-meet winning streak ended against Costa Mesa and they finished third at the league finals, a single point behind second-place Laguna Beach.

But Estancia does boast two extremely talented swimmers in seniors Kopp and Kunert. Kopp finished fourth in the 100 back last year at the CIF Southern Section Division II finals, while Kunert racks up points in the distance freestyle events.

Kunert’s younger sister, Haley, has also stepped in and won the 50 free and 100 back in the Eagles’ loss to Costa Mesa on April 1.

NEWPORT HARBOR

Coach: Ken LaMont (10th year)

2007 record: 1-4 in Sunset League dual meets (fourth place).

Key returners: Mimi Bury (Sr., distance free); Elizabeth Wheeler (Sr., distance free, fly); Katie Pederson (Sr., breast); Jessica Robinson (Sr., distance free); Kate Klippert (So., sprint free); Katie Jackson (So., fly, IM, free).

Key newcomers: Gigi Joseph (Fr., distance free).

Key dates: at home vs. Fountain Valley, April 9; at home vs. Los Alamitos, April 15; at Marina, April 22.

Outlook: Newport Harbor will have its hands full in a stacked Sunset League, but their are positives. Individually, Klippert and Jackson both made it to CIF last year as freshmen, but Jackson has been slowed at the beginning of this season by mononucleosis.

LaMont also said Joseph will be one to watch “for the rest of this year, and the three years after that.”

“We’re in a very competitive league, and it’s competitive again this year,” LaMont said. “But, when the girls swim well, it’s hard to be disappointed with that. If the girls stay focused, we can have a successful season, but that might not be by wins and losses.”

SAGE HILL

Coach: Cari Knowlton and Abby Zern (second year)

2007 record: 1-4 in Academy League (fourth place).

Key returners: Jordan Smith-Newman (Jr., back, IM); Sarah Wesley (Sr., breast, free); Dylan Conroy (Jr., free); Cameron Cline (Jr., sprint free, fly); Nancy Benner (Jr., distance free); Kelly Carpenter (Jr., distance free); Kay Feker (Jr., sprint free, breast).

Key newcomers: Madi Swayne (Fr., distance free); Abby Wesley (Fr., sprint free).

Key dates: at Oxford, April 9; at home vs. St. Margaret’s and Saddleback Valley Christian, April 11; at Whitney, April 24.

Outlook: The Lightning have a very small team, like they did last year. But it’s also a very close team, as most of the top swimmers are also water polo players.

Wesley, the lone senior, was the top CIF finisher last year as she was 13th in Division IV in the 100 free. She and her teammates will try to better their league showing of a year ago.

“They’re doing really well,” Knowlton said. “I think by the end of April when they go to league and CIF, they’ll be pretty happy with their times. They should be more competitive this year.”

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