High school girls swimming preview: Full speed ahead for Sailors

Amara Aguilar

A key senior is injured, but a handful of juniors will help the

Newport Harbor High Sailors ride what could be a successful wave in girls

swimming this season.

Senior Carly Geehr, who took second-place in the 200-yard freestyle at

the CIF Division I finals last year, is out because she is recovering

from a shoulder injury. But there is backup. Plenty of it.

Newport Coach Ken Lamont will look to juniors Hayley Peirsol, Nicole

Mackey, Jennifer Murphy and Mai Tajima to lead the Sailors.

“Our junior class is the core of the team,” Lamont said. “It has been

ever since they started as freshmen swimmers. Collectively they are a

very strong class.”

Peirsol was a third-place finisher in the 500 free at CIF last year

while Mackey took second in the 100 backstroke.

“Nicole can compete in anything,” Lamont said. “That’s what makes her

valuable. I can put her wherever I need her. Her weakest stroke is the

breaststroke, but if I put her in that event, she can probably win

against any team.”

The experience the juniors bring should help fill the hole left by

Jennifer Arrow, a key swimmer who competed in the breaststroke for the

Sailors as a senior last year.

Arrow was part of the squad that took fourth in CIF last season.

Irvine finished first as a team.

“We have a very strong team this year,” Lamont said. “The three teams

that beat us are Irvine, which is untouchable still, Laguna Hills, which

graduated some people, and San Clemente, which was also weakened a little

due to seniors graduating.”

In addition to experience, Newport has another bonus. Variety.

“A lot of our strength comes from the diversity all of our swimmers

bring,” Lamont said. “I could rearrange lineups every meet and still be

strong in any event. We can match up to any school, any swimmers.”

The Sailors will be tested early as they begin the season on Wednesday

in a 3 p.m. meet at Northwood.

Newport Harbor girls swimming

Alexandra Andersen Jr.

Jessica Ball So.

Peggy Beebe Jr.

Katherine Belden Sr.

Amber Braly Sr.

Carly Geehr Sr.

Annmarie Harvey Jr.

Paige Lansing Jr.

Nicole Mackey Jr.

Jennifer Murphy Jr.

Ashley Parole Jr.

Hayley Peirsol Jr.

Nicole Probert Sr.

Mai Tajima Jr.

Anne Wight Jr.

Coach: Ken Lamont