Sailors race past Corona del Mar

Rick Devereux

It’s been a while since the Corona del Mar High girls swim team

tasted defeat. The Sea Kings won the CIF Southern Section Division II

title last year after finishing undefeated in the Pacific Coast

League.

But host Newport Harbor was able to hand its Back Bay rival a

94-76 loss in both squads’ opening meet of the 2005 season Tuesday.

“Newport swam well, I give them all the credit in the world,” CdM

Coach Doug Volding said. “We’re going to continue to get better. We

got to see a lot of girls swim.”

The Sea Kings were without the services of Lexie Shue, Stephanie

Gabert, Ashley Chandler and Jackie Duzac. The foursome -- all of whom

made substantial contributions to the Sea Kings’ success last year --

were unable to swim in the meet due to prior commitments. Gabert and

Shue were in Irvine training for the U.S. Trials in the first weekend

of April.

“[Volding] predicted the outcome about a week ago,” Newport Coach

Ken LaMont said. “Today was a true test of what these high schools

can do without club swimmers.”

Senior Anne Belden took first in the 100-yard freestyle, 100 back

as well as anchored the winning 200 and 400 free relays for the

Sailors.

“I think it’s an advantage [to face CdM] early in the season,” she

said. “You want to swim against the best. You want to set a tone for

the rest of the year. You want to get into the season as quickly as

possible. What better way than against your crosstown rival?”

LaMont said he was pleased with the performance of Belden, Melissa

Wheeler and Leah Robertson, or, how he refers to them, “the big

three.”

Wheeler won the 200 free, swam the third legs of the 200 and 400

free relays as well as a third-place showing in the 100 free.

Robertson won the 50 free, led off the 200 and 400 free relays and

came in second in the 100 free.

Belden’s time in the 100 back (1:02.45) and Robertson’s in the 50

free (25.20) are automatic qualifying times for CIF Southern Section

Division I.

Consideration times were met in 12 events, including both Newport

and CdM teams in the 200 and 400 free relays.