Shue snaps record

Bryce Alderton

Not bad for her first high school swim meet.

Corona del Mar High freshman Alexandra (Ali) Shue made a good

first impression for Coach Doug Volding, breaking a school record in

the 500-yard freestyle that stood for 20 years, in helping host CdM

beat Edison, 116-54, in a nonleague dual meet Thursday.

Shue raced to a 5:10.69 in the 500 free, breaking Michelle Bird’s

5:17.00 clip set in 1983. Shue also clocked a 1:58.03 in the 200

free.

“I’m excited,” said Shue, who swims for the Aquazots, a club swim

team, after the 500 free. “It wasn’t my best time, but I’m just

pumped for the season. I had a good feel for the water.”

CdM had 10 times (six individual) that gained consideration for

entry into the CIF Southern Section Division II finals. Among those

to gain CIF consideration were: Shue’s marks in the 200 and 500 free,

junior Vivian Liao in the 50 free (25.66), junior Kim McKay in the

100 butterfly (1:04.72), senior Christina Hewko in the 100 backstroke

(1:06.27) and freshman Tumuaialii (Tumua) Anae in the 100

breaststroke (1:11.08).

Kathryn Bilder, Anae, McKay and Liao anchored the 200 medley relay

(2:00.55) to CIF consideration along with the 200 free relay teams of

Christina and her sister, Camille, Liao and Jordan Anae (1:46.07)

along with the team of senior Danielle Carlson, junior Katya

Eadington, sophomore Brittany Fullen and sophomore Ann Winners

(1:46.42). In the 400 free relay, the team of McKay, Shue, Liao and

Jordan Anae finished in 3:48.09, also gaining CIF consideration.

“This is the best start we’ve had,” said Liao after she exited the

pool following the 400 free relay. “Having at least two relay teams

qualify is a first. We’ve added new freshmen to boost the team.”

McKay won the 200 individual medley in 2:20.18 with Tumua Anae

right behind her at 2:22.83, while freshmen Ashley Chandler and

Bilder took second in the 100 free and 500 free, respectively.

Volding spoke highly of Shue and Bilder.

“I didn’t expect to be this hot right off the bat,” Volding said.

“What can you say about (Shue)? Her attitude is great and I can tell

she is going to be a great team person. I love (Bilder’s) attitude.

She is spirit-oriented.”

Many of the swimmers just completed their water polo season

Saturday, when CdM beat Villa Park for the CIF Division II title.

Liao said that the times will go down when swimmers get acclimated to

the strokes of swimming opposed to water polo.

“The strokes in water polo are a lot choppier,” Liao said. “We

just have to switch the techniques.”

On the boys side, Edison (Division I), ranked No. 1 in Orange

County following last season, beat CdM, 130-40.

CdM had two second-place finishes to go with four third-place

marks in events Thursday.

Senior Kevin Amendt took second in the 500 free (5:27.91), while

the 400 free relay team of seniors James Strack, Artie Dorr, Ryan

Moore and Spencer Harris touched the wall in 3:42.50.

Strack took third in both the 50 and 100 free, 23.90 and 53.05,

respectively. Junior Robert Fries raced to third in the 100

breaststroke (1:10.99) while the 200 free relay team of Harris,

senior Ali Kattan, Strack and Moore finished in 1:40.84.

“I could have done better, but I’m not too disappointed,” said

Strack after the 50 free. “(Winner Scott Fleming) was fast.”

Fleming won the 50 free in 22.61 and the 100 free (50.12). Three

other Edison swimmers each won two individual events, giving

fifth-year coach Cory Tague promise.

“It’s only our second meet of the year so we are still trying to

find out where guys will be,” said Tague, whose brother, Cody, took

first in the 200 free (1:49.42) and 100 backstroke (0:57.47).

First-year CdM Coach Tim Salvino echoed Tague’s thoughts.

“We are still trying to get the bugs worked out, some guys aren’t

even racing their best events,” Salvino said. “And Edison is really

good.”

During the meet, CdM girls congregated around senior teammate

Daniela DiGiacomo, who did not race Thursday. DiGiacomo said she

received a phone call from a coach at UC Berkeley saying she had been

accepted.

“It’s where I’ve wanted to go for a long time,” DiGiacomo said.