Reed wraps up freshman season by posting AAC time at Stanford;
five ‘Balers take on heat
&
amp; top competition in CCS Finals
Palo Alto – Talk about saving the best for last. As the Central Coast Section Swimming Championships wound down on Saturday, Shelli Reed put an exclamation point on her outstanding freshman season at San Benito High.
As Reed touched the wall at the finish of the 100-yard backstroke and her time of 59.01 was posted on the scoreboard at Stanford’s Avery Aquatic Center, Reed’s teammates and coach started buzzing – she had completed a race worthy of All American Consideration.
But at first, Reed didn’t even realize it. Gazing up at the scoreboard, she locked in on the wrong time and thus, didn’t erupt in emotion.
“I got out and everyone was telling me my time,” Reed related, “and I’m like, ‘That’s not what I got.’ I don’t know. I swear I looked.”
Once reality set in that she had achieved the coveted AAC designation, Reed said her mind was racing.
“I was shocked and excited,” shared Reed, who finished a strong fifth in the race. “It was hard. I didn’t think I’d be able to do it.”
San Benito girls coach Stephanie Pursley said for Reed to swim an AAC time so early in her high school career leaves the door open for untold feats.
“Being a freshman and getting it, it’s really a good accomplishment for her,” Pursley said.
Reed’s performance in the CCS Finals was the highlight of the day for the San Benito swimming program. Three ‘Baler swimmers and two divers had advanced to the final day of the high school season and they enjoyed competing against the section’s best in front of a huge crowd and soaring temperatures.
After San Benito star Blane Curtice fell ill on the eve of Friday’s swimming preliminaries, the ‘Baler boys didn’t have quite the meet they were expecting heading into CCS. Curtice enjoyed top-10 seeds in two individual events and played a prominent role in two ‘Baler relays. The junior competed despite his 102-degree fever, but was disappointed to not be at peak strength for CCS.
San Benito’s boys’ team, the Tri-County Athletic League champion, finished in a tie for 30th place in the 41-team field. TCAL runner-up Live Oak, which also saw the meet take an unexpected turn with senior Shea Coleman’s disqualification from three of his events on Friday, finished 29 th. Bellarmine won its 22nd straight section championship, nearly doubling the number of points of second-place Palo Alto.
The Lady ‘Balers finished 22nd in the 37-team girls’ competition. Archbishop Mitty avenged its 2005 defeat to Palo Alto by winning its fourth girls’ crown in five years.
Brandon Drogemuller, a San Benito freshman, took 15th in the 500-yard freestyle – the very seed he earned in Friday’s preliminaries. Drogemuller shared his thoughts on the race and the CCS experience shortly after his heat.
“Tired,” Drogemuller answered when asked how he was feeling. “I think we were tapered, but I was just tired for the meet because it’s so hot. It’s a little tough to do it back-to-back.”
While watching the top-eight swimmers compete in the 500-yard freestyle final, Drogemuller said that was the heat he expects to be in next season.
“This year, because I’m a freshman, was for fun,” the Haybaler continued. “Next year, hopefully I can make it to finals. Junior and senior year, I hope I can be CCS champion.”
A day after posting his season-best time of 22.00 in the 50-yard freestyle preliminaries, San Benito junior David Smith held his seed of 15 th. Smith finished the consolation finals in 22.16.
After taking second in the TCAL Championships, Jason Andrade finished 11th in the diving competition. The San Benito junior scored 285 points.
Fellow diver Jeff Scibuola, a freshman, scored 176.95 points in the preliminaries.
In addition to her outstanding 100-yard backstroke finish, Reed earlier posted a season-best time in winning the consolation finals of the 100-yard butterfly. Though her time of 58.84 beat the time of two swimmers in the finals, Reed had to settle for 9th place.
While the day ended on such a high note for Reed, she said it didn’t begin that way.
“I woke up this morning and I didn’t feel right,” Reed related. “I was sore, tired. I was actually really down going into the first race. I was able to pull through and, after that, I was all excited, pumped up and ready to go.”
Moments after stepping down from the podium after the awards for the 100-yard backstroke finalists, Reed and her coach shared a few last thoughts on the day and the season.
“She did all the hard work freshman year,” Pursley said. “Now, from here on out, all she can do is improve and get recruited.”
Asked whether Reed deserved a break after her dynamic showing, the San Benito coach said, “I would say so, but I don’t know if her mom will let her.”
Countered Reed: “I don’t want a break.”
