Boys and girls swimming: CdM girls rule over Tars

Steve Virgen

CORONA DEL MAR - The 2002 version of the Battle of the Bay in

swimming had three thrilling elements at Corona del Mar High Wednesday.

The Drama: Trailing, 81-75, the Corona del Mar High boys team rallied

to win the final event (400-yard freestyle relay) and grabbed a

third-place finish to end the meet in a tie with Newport Harbor.

The Record-breaker: CdM girls swimmer Jordan Anae, a freshman, broke a

10-year-old school record in the 100-yard backstroke (1:00.35). Kate

Salvino held the former record after her 1:01.08 swim in 1991.

The Rivalry: The Battle of the Bay brought out the best in the CdM

girls squad. The Sea Kings earned nine CIF qualification times and

defeated Newport Harbor, 103-67, for the first time in three years.

“This is one meet where you don’t have to say anything to motivate

them,” CdM Coach Doug Volding said of his inspiring his squad. “We just

got exceptional times. It seemed like every race we were getting CIF

(qualification). It’s really exciting.”

The Sea Kings (2-0) won 10 out of the 11 events, including all three

relays. The Sailors (0-2) were without three of their stars, Carly Geehr,

Nicole Mackey and Hayley Peirsol. Geehr is out with a shoulder injury,

while Mackey and Peirsol are training for next week’s National

Championships in Minneapolis, Minn.

“I would like to think that we can without them,” Newport Coach Ken

LaMont said. “We’re struggling to find speed. But the girls are doing

great. I couldn’t ask anything more from them.”

CdM was without its No. 1 breaststroke swimmer, Jackie McCoy, who tore

her ACL during the basketball season. Volding said she might make a

comeback late in the season.

Anae, in her Back Bay rivalry debut, also won the 200 individual

medley (2:16.89), and helped out in victories in the 200 and 400

freestyle relays. All of her times qualified for CIF.

“This was fun, being in my first year and competing against

(Newport),” Anae said. “I was just really excited to find out about

breaking the record. This meet had that rivalry spirit to it.”

Kim McKay and Vivian Liao also won two individual events, with

CIF-qualifying times, and helped win two relays. McKay won the 100

butterfly (1:02.98) and 500 free (5:27.19), and Liao won the 50 free

(25.64) and 100 free (56.03).

In the 100 free, Liao led a 1-2-3 finish that featured CdM water polo

standouts from the CIF Southern Section Division IV championship team.

Christina Hewko and Brittney Bowlus followed Liao. Bowlus also swam

anchor in the 200 and 400 free relays. CdM’s Heather Hapeman won the 100

breaststroke (1:16.12).

Newport Harbor’s Mai Tajima grabbed the Sailors’ lone victory in the

200 free (1:58.80). Tajima also finished second in the 100 back

(1:01.02).

The Newport Harbor boys team was led by senior Ryan Lean, who won the

500 free (CIF qualifying 4:37.01) and 100 back (57.52), while Sherwin Kim

was one of many showstoppers for CdM.

Kim, who was also a standout goalie for the CIF Division IV water polo

championship team, won the 100 free (50.70) and also anchored the 200

free relay squad to victory. Marcello Pantuliano (200 free), John Money

(200 IM) and Matt Meyer (50 free) also won an event for the Sea Kings

(0-0-2).

Bobby Messenger, Kevin Amendt, Money and Jimmy Strack led the CdM

rally when they won the 400 free relay (3:28.60).

“This is a win for us, not a loss,” said CdM first-year coach Todd

Larsen, whose team tied for the second time in as many meets this season.

“Bryan Bugahiar, a freshman, swam fast and put us up two body lengths so

that we can grab third place.”

Swimming phenom Aaron Peirsol, a senior who won the 2000 Olympic

silver medal in the 200 back, did not compete in Wednesday’s meet. He is

also training for the National Championships. Andrew Cole, another

Newport standout, also missed the meet because of prior commitments.

Michael Bury won the 100 butterfly (1:00.67) for the Tars (0-1-1).

“We did a pretty good job. A tie, that’s encouraging,” Newport Coach

Jason Lynch said. “(Lean) did real well and he’s coming back from

shoulder problems. At first he wasn’t sure how many meets he would do,

but he’s back at full strength.”