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Sports

Swim Notebook: Sailors Battle Against Edison, Uncertainty

Newport Harbor loses its boys coach, then falls to Edison in Sunset League dual; Mission Viejo battles Aliso Niguel in South Coast League; Diablos' Ewoldt going strong.

The Week in Review  

Match of the Week

Newport Harbor's boys 200-yard individual medley relay team got the best of Edison's, but Sunset League bragging rights still belonged to the host Chargers after Tuesday's showdown between two of Orange County's top swim teams.

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Reeling from the sudden loss of their coach -- on Monday, 10-year veteran Jason Lynch was relieved of his boys swim and water polo coaching duties by principal Michael Vossen because of a personal matter at the school -- the Sailors were beat to the wall in seven of the 11 events and lost to Edison, 97.50 - 72.50 before a packed house at Edison High.

Filling in for Lynch was longtime assistant Corey Delahunt, who was excited for the opportunity to be at the helm but was disappointed with the way he got there.

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“Coach is my friend and mentor,” Delahunt said. “It’s hard. We have been together for over 10 years and he has taught me a lot about swimming, water polo and life. He coached me when I was at Costa Mesa high school and has been wonderful to work for, so it is definitely weird without him around. But I am excited to help these boys get through the rest of the season.”

Delahunt, who graduated from Costa Mesa in 1991, said he hopes the recent turn of events will not hamper what has been a promising season so far. “I’ve told the boys that they have to continue to work hard and do the best they can every day,” he said. “I think the boys will bounce back, and I look for big things from them through the end of this season.”      

Tuesday's meet started well for the Sailors in the first event of the day, the 200 IM relay, which was also the most closely contested race of the day. Newport Harbor opened a half-length lead after the first two legs of the race before Edison closed the gap on the third, Both anchor freestylers hit the water simultaneously. Newport Harbor senior Andrew Duhoux was neck-and-neck with Edison's Brian Ely before outstretching him to the wall and post a time of 1:44.85 to the Chargers' 1:44.98.

“I knew when I hit the water that I was going to beat him to the wall,” Duhoux said. “I thought I was going to win by a little bit more, but he just wouldn’t go away. It was a great race.”  

In another close race, Newport Harbor junior Ryan Fowler came from behind to beat Edison’s Matt Ferretti by only .38 seconds in the 100 butterfly. Fowler posted a time of 56.50 compard to Ferretti’s 56.88. The time, however, was more than a full second slower than Ferretti's season best of 55.30.

“I wasn’t at my best today for some reason,” Folwer said. “It’s strange not having coach around. But I still found a way to win.”

On the girl’s side, Edison soundly defeated Newport Harbor, 116-53, as the Lady Sailors managed to win only one event.

Sophomore Casey Duckworth easily won the 500 yard freestyle in a time of 5:15.34, a full 11 seconds in front of runner-up Alys Williams of Edison, who finished in a time of 5:26.71.

Duckworth, who has posted the third fastest time in the county this season (5:04.78), said she feels that her best swim is yet to come.

“I just keep working hard every day at getting prepared for CIF [Southern Section preliminaries],” Duckworth said. “I think that I haven’t swum my best time yet and, hopefully, that will come at the right time, the CIF finals.”

In the closest race of the day on the girls side, Edison's Williams edged Newport Harbor sophomore Carly Christian, 55.30 to 55.35, in the 100 free.

“I thought I had her,” Christian said. “I kept looking up at the board after the race to see the time and I guess she just beat me. That was a tough loss.”

Around the Deck

Corona del Mar is a on a roll at just the right time, having won its last two meets heading into a huge showdown with visiting Pacific Coast League rival University on Friday at 3 p.m. The Sea Kings boys and girls swept past Irvine on March 30 and handily defeated Long Beach Wilson Tuesday to gear up for their much-anticipated meet against the Trojans.

Corona del Mar, led by seniors Geon Woong Kim, Jared Namba, Matthew Berry and Garrett Larson, won seven of 11 events to beat Irvine, 105-65, and nine of  11 to beat Wilson, 117-53.

The foursome had a hand in every victory for the Sea Kings, individually and as a relay team, at both meets and has at least one of its members among the top five fastest county swimmers in almost every event this season.

The Sea Queens were as impressive as the Kings in beating Irvine, 93-77,  and trouncing Wilson 132-38. Sisters Natalie and Brynne Wong, Pippa Saunders, Hollace Barden and Ally McCormick have been Corona del Mar's primary weapons and will be counted on heavily against University.

In other girls action last week, Mission Viejo continued its roll by narrowly defeating South Coast League rival Aliso Niguel, 89-81.  

“That meet was a real battle,” Mission Viejo Coach Jeff Boss stated. “Aliso is one of the top teams in the area and we knew going in it was going to be a dogfight.”

The Diablos got first-place finishes from Marina Spadoni (200 free in  1:56.28), Taylor Guy (200 IM in 2:14.07) and Daniella Goni (100 breastroke in 1:13.75).

“Our girls really stepped up big,” Boss said. “We got some very good performances and several very important second- and third-place finishes that helped us get the win.”

Mission Viejo's Megan Leyds took second in the 50 free (25.99) and teammate Kimberly Macey was third (26.75). The second- and third-place spots in the 100 fly went to Guy (59.37) and Kelsey Warkentin (1:03.26). Leyds also finished second in the 100 free  (57.87). Mission Viejo’s Olivia Hughes was second in the 500 free (5:07.07) and Sasha Westberg took third (5:28.22). Spadoni (1:02.88) and Rachyl Quan (1:04.54) finished second and third in the 100 back.

A lack of depth hurt Aliso Niguel, which lost despite winning eight of 11 events. The Wolverines were led by senior Melanie Klaren, who won the 500 free (5:02.34) and the 100 fly (58.58), along with anchoring the winning 400 free relay (1:54.45) and leading off the winning 200 IM relay team (3:48.91).

The Wolverines also received victories by junior Stephanie Schlobohm (50 free in 24.94 and 100 free in 53.76), and freshman Christina Santala (100 back in 1:01.73).

Aliso Niguel's boys team won six of 11 events to edge Mission Viejo, 87-83. The Wolverines received winning efforts from its 400 free relay team (3:24.60), Justin Zumsteg in the 100 breast (1:04.25), Chris Sample in the 100 back (56.54), Janardan Burns in the 200 free (1:44.70) and 500 free (4:40.10) and Warren Nadvornick in the 100 fly (57.75).

Burns, only a freshman, has been a welcome addition to the Wolverines' squad this season. The newcomer has the third-fastest time in the county in the 500 free (4:39.88) and the fourth-fastest in the 200 free (1:44.36).   

Mission Viejo picked up its victories in the 200 medley relay (1:44.50) and 200 free relay (1:30.17), and individually by Steven Ewoldt in the 200 IM (2:04.28) and 100 free (47.53) and Brian Kespradit in the 50 free (22.79).

“It was neck-and-neck the whole way,” Boss said. “They swept us in the breast and took the top two in the fly, and that probably was the difference. I thought we competed well, and it was a great meet for both teams.”  

Coaches' Polls

Here are the opinions of five local coaches as to the county's top five boys and girls teams:

Boys -- 1. Capistrano Valley; 2. Corona del Mar;  3. Irvine; 4. University; 5. Newport Harbor.

Girls -- 1. University; 2. Edison; 3. Santa Margarita; 4. Mission Viejo; 5. Corona del Mar.

Athlete Spotlight

Mission Viejo's Ewoldt has not been shy about his desire to break some school records this season, but even he must have been surprised when, in only the second meet of the season, he shattered a 16-year-old mark in the 50 free by posting a blazing time of 20.46.

“He was telling me the entire off-season that he was going to break some school records,” Boss, his coach, said. “Not only did he break the record but he did it in the second meet of the season. He has now had to re-focus his goals for the season.”

The previous 50 free record-holder was no slouch. Bart Kizeirowski is a four-time Olympian for his native country of Poland. Kizeirowski sent an e-mail to Ewoldt,  congratulating him on his achievement and providing words of encouragement.

“It was really nice of him to recognize Steven’s accomplishment,” Boss said. “I think the e-mail has provided Steven with additional motivation for the remainder of the season.”

Ewoldt was a talented water polo player but was a little small and scrawny when he enrolled as a freshman at Mission Viejo. Swimming was an afterthought and a way to stay in shape for his primary sport.

“I wanted to be great in water polo when I was a freshman,” Ewoldt said. “But after a while I grew to like swimming more and more. Now, I love swimming.”

That love is shining through as the senior is having a remarkable season. Ewoldt has the county's top times in the 50 free (20.46) and 100 free (46.38) and is the anchor on the 200 free relay team that has the third-fastest time in the county this season (1:28.52).

“Steven is a joy to coach,” Boss said. “He works extremely hard but is not arrogant and is a great example to his teammates and underclassmen who want to be successful. Steven is an example of what is possible with hard work and dedication.”

The Diablo senior is considering attending either UC Santa Barbara or Cal Baptist, where he will continue to swim.

“I just want a chance to show what I can do,” Ewoldt said. “I know that if continue to work hard, I will be successful at whatever I do.”

Ewoldt and his fellow Diablos will need to be in top form on Tuesday when they go up against Capistrano Valley, the defending CIF Southern Section Division 1 champions, at Mission Viejo High at 3 p.m.    

Upcoming Meets

Thursday, April 7

Sunset League -- Los Alamitos at Fountain Valley, 3 p.m.; Newport Harbor vs. Edison at Los Alamitos (diving only), 3 p.m.

Trinity League -- JSerra at Santa Margarita, 3:15 p.m.

Nonleague -- Foothill Swim Games, girls prelims, 3 p.m.; El Toro Frosh-Soph Invitational, girls prelims, 3 p.m.

Friday, April 8

Pacific Coast League -- University at Corona del Mar, 3 p.m.

Nonleague -- Foothill Swim Games, boys prelims, 3 p.m.; El Toro Frosh-Soph Invitational, boys prelims, 3 p.m.

Saturday, April 9

Nonleague --  Foothill Swim Games, finals, 10 a.m.; Santa Margarita in Catholic State Swim Challenge at Flintridge Sacred Heart, 9 a.m.; El Toro Frosh-Soph Invitational, finals, 10 a.m.

Tuesday, April 12

Academy League -- St. Margaret's vs. Oxford Academy at Kennedy High, 3 p.m.

South Coast League -- Capistrano Valley at Mission Viejo, 3:15 p.m.; Aliso Niguel at San Clemente, 3 p.m.

Sea View League -- Dana Hills at Trabuco Hills, 3:15 p.m.; Laguna Hills at Tesoro, 3:30 p.m.

Sunset League -- Los Alamitos vs. Edison at Huntington Beach High, 3 p.m.

Nonleague -- Fountain Valley at Santa Margarita, 3 p.m.

Wednesday, April 13

Garden Grove League -- Rancho Alamitos at Los Amigos, 3:15 p.m.

Orange Coast League -- Godinez at Laguna Beach, 3:15 p.m.

Geoffrey Nielsen's "Swim Notebook" appears weekly on all Orange County Patch sites.


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