With Acorns gone, Balers have a stronger chance at TCAL
Live Oak High School has always been known for its exceptional
aquatics program. But now that the Acorns are no longer in the mix
and competing in the San-Jose-based Blossom Valley Athletic League,
the door has opened even wider for the defending champion San
Benito High School boys swim team to cruise through it and repeat
as champions of the Tri County Athletic League.
With Acorns gone, Balers have a stronger chance at TCAL
Live Oak High School has always been known for its exceptional aquatics program. But now that the Acorns are no longer in the mix and competing in the San-Jose-based Blossom Valley Athletic League, the door has opened even wider for the defending champion San Benito High School boys swim team to cruise through it and repeat as champions of the Tri County Athletic League.
And while the boys squad is expected to win the league again, the girls team, which finished in third place a year ago, also has the roster depth to vie for a league championship of its own.
In fact, take away a few of the private schools in the section and San Benito High School would be one of the favorites to win a Central Coast Section title.
Now that they have a dive team, the girls team has a better chance to win. A year ago it didn’t and had to forfeit the event, which cost the team in the overall point totals.
In addition to having a number of strong returning swimmers, the 2007 team is also relying on a few talented freshman swimmers that joined the team this year. They are Demi Gatrell and Megan Geary.
While Baler coaches Leif Nordstrom and Stephanie Pursley are encouraged by the new swimmers on the roster most of the hype this season on the girls team centers around returning sophomore Shelli Reed.
A year ago Reed ascended to the top of the league in both the 100-yard back and breaststroke and has performed well in the early going this year as has Katie Buzzetta, who also gives the Balers plenty of speed in the sprint events.
The Baler boys team is led by seniors David Smith and Blaine Curtis, who both played an instrumental role in the water polo team’s success last fall.
Smith is best known for his speed in the water and is considered the team’s top sprinter.
A year ago, Smith captured the individual league title in the 100-yard freestyle event and finished second in the 50 freestyle. Smith also anchored the team’s 200-yard freestyle relay team to victory in the league championship last season.
Smith’s teammate, Curtis, was the league’s top swimmer a season ago in both the 100-yard butterfly event and the 200-yard IM.
In the diving competition the Baler boys are led by senior Jason Andrade, who finished second last year to Salinas’ Sam Figueroa, the three-time TCAL diving champion.
This year, Andrade has already proven that he is the diver to beat down the stretch as he already beat Figueroa in a meet earlier this month against Salinas at Hartnell College. At that same meet Andrade’s score was also good enough to automatically qualify him for the Central Coast Section meet, which takes place in May.
The Balers next meet takes place this afternoon at 3:30 p.m. when they will travel to Hartnell College to take on Palma (boys team) and Notre Dame (girls team).
