Swimming: Powers advances to CIF Finals

Tony Altobelli

LONG BEACH - It’s amazing what a little anger can do to a person’s

motivation.

Lauren Powers, turned a slow race in the 100-yard butterfly into a strong

performance in the 100 freestyle during Thursday’s CIF Division II

preliminaries.

Powers, who, according to her coach Doug Volding was disappointed after

missing the top-eight cut for the championship finals in the 100 fly,

(1:01.52, 13th place), qualified fifth in the 100 free (54.25), becoming

the only individual swimmer from either Corona del Mar or Costa Mesa to

make it to a championship race.

“She had a slow jump off the blocks in the 100 fly, which happens from

time to time,” Volding said. “I think she expected to qualify in both

races. I was very proud of her because those races are back to back. She

did a great job of bouncing back.”

The only other hope for a CIF Division II championship will come from the

Sea Kings’ 200 free relay team of Morgan Johnston, Sherwin Kim, Garrett

Gentry and John Graass, who qualified seventh with a 1:30.17.

“Overall, I was pretty happy with how we swam tonight,” boys coach Jon

Moore said. “Our swimmers swam like they prepared.”

Despite the small contingent headed for the championships, that doesn’t

mean there weren’t some solid performances.

Take CdM’s Sherwin Kim, for example. He put together two solid marks in

the 200 individual medley (2:01.82) and the 100 breaststroke (1:03.62),

qualifying for the CIF consolation finals in both.

“I think Sherwin performed great tonight,” Moore said. “He had a great

game plan for both events and he was prepared to swim well, which he

did.”

Also reaching the consolations was CdM’s 200 medley relay squad, which

took 10th place overall with a 1:43.51.

For the Mustangs, the results weren’t as important as just being able to

compete against the best in Division II.

“Hey, it’s an honor just to qualify,” Coach Todd Kolber said. “This is

all just gravy for the kids. It’s a great learning experience. Hopefully,

they’ll be back again.”

Leading the Mustangs’ pack was Mike Whittman, who set a personal-best

time of 2:06.80 in the 200 IM, as well as a solid 1:05.30 in the 100

breast.

Moore shared Kolber’s sentiments regarding the experience outweighing the

results.

Despite not qualifying for finals or consolations, CdM’s Chriss Street,

David Fabian, Christina Hewko and Jackie McCoy, as well as Mesa’s Erin

Bayes, Katie Roche, Wendy Martinovich and Jody Martinovich each competed

Thursday, something not too many Division II swimmers could say.

“Just making it here is a big deal,” Moore said of all the competitors.

The Division II finals take place at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday at Belmont

Plaza.