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The CIF Southern Section swimming championships are following the lead of the boys and girls water polo finals and heading to the new facility at Mt. SAC in Walnut.
The section’s swimming prelims and championships will be held April 30 through May 4 at the two-pool complex that features stadium-style seating.
Orange County appears in favor of the new direction.
“We are excited to be going there,” Santa Margarita co-coach Rich Blanc said. “Mt. SAC is an awesome facility and has a fast pool.”
“(It’s) great for spectators with great seating and ample parking,” he added. “When we told the kids about it, they were fired up, too.”
Last season, the section swimming finals returned to Riverside City College for the first time since 2019 after being displaced by the pandemic. Santa Margarita High and the Marguerite Aquatics Complex hosted the championships in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
In the fall, Mt. SAC hosted the boys water polo finals. The girls water polo championships will be played at the venue this Saturday.
The shift to Mt. SAC in swimming will continue to put the spotlight on Mt. SAC’s Spring Meet of Champions, set for April 12-13. The meet has grown popular and now serves as a trial-run for the section finals.
The regular-season meet includes diving and will introduce inclusion events this spring, director Marc Ruh stated.
“The venue feels like you’re walking into any major, professional sport venue with its stands and atmosphere,” said Northwood coach Alex Nieto, whose teams are scheduled to again race at the Spring Meet of Champions. “Athletes will truly get a glimpse of what the pros feel like when paraded out for events.”
“It feels like a football stadium with the two-level seating,” Villa Park consultant and aquatics announcer John Kulisich added. “Kids should swim fast in that atmosphere.”
The Southern Section’s diving finals will be held at the Margarite Aquatics Center on April 24-25. The section’s qualifying meet for state will be held April 30 at Mt. SAC.
FOOTHILL SWIM GAMES MOVE UP
The tradition-rich Foothill Swim Games will celebrate their 50th anniversary by transitioning to an early-season meet from a late-season tune-up. The meet is scheduled for March 7-9.
“(We) hoped an earlier meet would dodge the spring breaks and allow more teams to participate,” Knights boys coach Dean Crow said.
The meet has secured commitments so far from Beckman, Crean Lutheran, Esperanza, Servite and Santa Margarita. Interested teams can contact Foothill girls coach Jen Massey at aquajen52@gmail.com.
OTHER TOP MEETS TO WATCH
Santa Margarita’s dual meet against Loyola and Marlborough is tentatively scheduled for March 27. Last season, the Eagles’ girls 200-yard freestyle relay set a national record at the meet with a time of 1 minute, 29.61 seconds at USC. … Santa Margarita will host the Catholic Challenge on April 6. Loyola is expected to be among the entries. … Northwood will race at the Clovis West Invitational April 4-6.
SANTA MARGARITA RELOADS
Santa Margarita’s boys and girls teams feature several freshmen to watch as they look to extend their streak of section titles.
The three-time defending Division 1 boys champion have added Taylor Thongintra and Luke Collins to their fleet. Thongintra has shown promise in the breaststroke and individual medley while Collins is a distance freestyle. Collins is the son of former Capistrano Valley and U.S. national standout Amy Shaw.
Santa Margarita’s girls, the nine-time defending Division 1 champion, is excited about freshmen breaststrokers Vivian Taylor and Eileen Song. Co-coach Ron Blanc also has been impressed with the improvement of sophomore distance swimmer Hannah Campbell.
NOTES
Nathan Wilcox is the new coach at Fountain Valley. He also coaches club with the Irvine Novaquatics at nearby Los Cab Sports Village. … Plans for a new 50-meter pool and aquatic center at Villa Park are progressing, Orange Unified confirmed. … Troy features two juniors to watch in Luke Leon Guerrero and Kevin Yum, both of whom train with FAST. … The CIF State swimming and diving championships are May 9-11 in Fresno. … The U.S. Olympic Trials in swimming are June 15-23 in Indianapolis. … The U.S. Olympic Trials in diving are June 17-23 in Knoxville, Tenn.
SWIMMERS TO WATCH
GIRLS
Allison Mann, Villa Park, Sr.
The San Diego State-bound sprinter is one to remember in Division 2.
Zara Masud, Woodbridge, Sr.
Masud placed third in the 200 free and butterfly at the CIF Division 1 finals last season.
Kaitlyn Nguyen, Fountain Valley, Jr.
The reigning CIF Division 1 breaststroke champion has committed to USC.
Teagan O’Dell, Santa Margarita, Jr.
The reigning O.C. girls athlete of the year and Cal commit plans to juggle high school swimming with training for the U.S. Olympic Trials. The Eagles’ stellar junior class also includes college commits Chloe Stinson (North Carolina) and Gracyn Aquino (Cal).
Teia Salvino, Santa Margarita, Sr.
The SMU commit and Philippines national teamer is one to watch in the sprint freestyles.
Sydney Willson, JSerra, Jr.
The daughter of Olympic great Janet Evans (El Dorado) has committed to Princeton. She excels in the 200 and 500 freestyles like her mother.
BOYS
Hunter Cehelnik, Santa Margarita, Sr.
The UC San Diego commit is one of the county’s top sprinters.
Andrew Maksymowski, Northwood, So.
The rising distance freestyler clocked a 4:23.75 in the 500 free at the Junior Championship West in early Deccember.
Gian Santos, Tesoro, Sr.
The Columbia commit is a freestyler to watch in the 200 and 500.
Daniel Verdolaga, Santa Margarita, Sr.
The Army commit touched third in the butterfly last season in CIF Division 1.
Jacob Wang, Woodbridge, Sr.
Look for Wang to continue to challenge breaking 20 seconds in the 50 free.
Nathan Wu, Santa Margarita, Sr.
The USC commit is one of the county’s top breaststrokers.
Haru Yamagata, Orangewood Academy, Jr.
Don’t forget about this breaststroker in Division 4 in CIF. He blazed a 54.53 in early December.
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