CdM girls tie up University, 85-85

Bryce Alderton

Though the scoreboard showed 85-85, Corona del Mar High girls swim

coach Doug Volding considered Wednesday’s Pacific Coast

League-opening dual meet with visiting University a victory of sorts.

CdM trailed most of the way against University (1-0-1 overall),

but with a first- and third-place finish in the 400-yard free relay

-- the final event of the meet -- all was not lost for the hosts.

“This is fun,” Volding said. “To behind the whole meet ... against

University, I couldn’t be happier. This is a class team that never

gives up.”

CdM senior Brittany Bowlus swam the final leg of the 400 in 53.86

for the winning team, which also included Alexandra Shue, Jordan Anae

and Vivian Liao. The relay team posted a 3:39.25, good for automatic

All-American consideration. Volding said the previous best was 3:44.

“I knew we had to get first,” said Bowlus, a member of CdM’s CIF

Southern Section Division II water polo champion. “I just tried to

keep the lead the last 50 yards.” University clocked a time of

3:40.19.

CdM’s third-place relay team of Kim McKay, Ashley Chandler,

Christina Hewko and Tumuaialii Anae touched in 3:49.84, nearly three

seconds quicker than the University counterpart.

CdM’s only other tie during the meet came after Shue, a freshman,

broke a 20-year school record in the 200 individual medley (2:07.88),

which gained automatic consideration for All-American. Amy Reinhold

set the previous record (2:09.27) in 1983.

“It’s always good to get first, but more importantly, get points

for the team,” said Shue, who moved from Texas two-and-a-half years

ago and has been swimming for the Aquazots swim club for three years.

She said she knew the time she had to beat to break the record.

Later, Shue would shatter a record she set in the 500 free when

she touched in 5:07.36. Shue clocked a 5:10.69 against Edison in

CdM’s opening dual meet March 6.

“The team is the most important thing,” Shue said. “If the records

come, that is also important.”

CdM (1-1-1) took first in the 200 free relay (1:45.30) with McKay,

Danielle Carlson, Katya Eadington and Vivian Liao, whose time is

worthy of CIF preliminary qualification.

Liao tied University’s Katelyn Schumacher with a 25.68 in the 50

free, while Anae won the 100 breaststroke in 1:10.64.