Team likely to enter CCS undefeated
They’re in first place. They haven’t lost a single swim meet all
year in the Tri County Athletic League, and every one of their
league wins was a blowout. So what’s the San Benito High girls swim
team’s biggest fear heading into next week’s TCAL championship at
Alvarez High School in Salinas? Complacency.
”
We’re looking past the TCALs when it comes to the girls,
”
said San Benito High swim coach Christine Schafer.
”
The girls are going to go undefeated. It’s really about seeing
how high they’re going to place at CCS (Central Coast Section). And
that can be a lot harder to do when you’re not being pushed.
”
Team likely to enter CCS undefeated
They’re in first place. They haven’t lost a single swim meet all year in the Tri County Athletic League, and every one of their league wins was a blowout. So what’s the San Benito High girls swim team’s biggest fear heading into next week’s TCAL championship at Alvarez High School in Salinas? Complacency.
“We’re looking past the TCALs when it comes to the girls,” said San Benito High swim coach Christine Schafer. “The girls are going to go undefeated. It’s really about seeing how high they’re going to place at CCS (Central Coast Section). And that can be a lot harder to do when you’re not being pushed.”
This season the Baler girls swim team has qualified six individual swimmers and all of its relay swimmers to the prestigious Section meet while the boy’s squad, a team that only lost to Salinas in league competition, will send two individuals and two relay teams to the Section championships, which get under way May 16 at Stanford University.
The only swimmer on the girls’ team to qualify to compete in every Section event was junior Shelli Reed, who bested the CCS prerequisite times in all eight events, including the 50, 100, 200 and 500 freestyle; the 200IM and the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke.
“Shelli is going to have an amazing career and is going to swim in college,” Shafer said. “She’s a very strong swimmer and has already swum in many national level meets.”
The lone senior on the girls’ team this year, Katie Buzzetta, earned a trip to the Section meet in the 50 freestyle event, marking the third year in a row that she earned a spot at the year-end meet.
“Katie is phenomenal, extremely talented and gifted,” Schafer said. “She’s a fierce competitor and she never gives up a race.”
Sophomore Demi Gatrell earned a spot in every CCS event except the 100 backstroke. Gatrell was able to post Section qualifying times in the 200 freestyle, 200IM, 50 free, 100 butterfly, 100 free, 500 free and the 100 breast.
“Demi is an extremely strong swimmer,” Schafer said. “She’s only a sophomore so she still has two years to go. She’s a great kid and she works hard. She’s the second-best all-around swimmer that we have.”
Junior Megan Geary – despite taking up the sport two years ago – was able to earn a spot on one of the Balers relay teams.
“To earn a spot at CCS after swimming only two years is pretty amazing,” Shafer said.
Junior Lacey Larson qualified for the Section championships in both the 200 and 500 freestyle events.
“She has just really improved,” Schafer said. “She is already besting her CCS times from a year ago. She’s a really strong swimmer.”
Freshman Celina Stotler qualified for the CCS championships in both the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle events.
The two individuals from the boys’ team who have already earned trips to the Section meet are junior Brandon Drogemuller and senior Steven Shattuck.
Shattuck qualified in the 100 breaststroke event while Drogemuller did so in the 200 freestyle, 200 IM, 100 butterfly and the 500 freestyle.
“Brandon is an amazing hard-working young man,” Schafer said. “He’s been outstanding all of his high school years, but I think he’s going to improve and flourish even more in college. I think this year was just the tip of the iceberg with him.”
Shattuck, who had never earned an individual trip to CCS, did so in the Baler boy’s 106-75 win over Gilroy last week. Although he didn’t beat Gilroy’s David Pribyl in the 100 breaststroke event, Pribyl was just what the doctor ordered to get Shattuck over the qualifying hump.
“He lost but the Gilroy kid pushed him,” Schafer said. “And that’s what he needed. Steven is a great kid. He works so hard. He came back this year determined to make CCS and he did. It was great.”
The other Baler swimmers to make CCS as part of the Balers’ relay teams were: Drogemuller, Kyle Ruther, Matt McCullough, Clayton Slater and Jordan Schafer.
Once both squads get past the TCALs the top girls’ team to beat at CCS is Archbishop Mitty and the top boys’ squad is perennial CCS powerhouse Bellarmine.
“At CCS, I’m hoping that at least two of our girls relay teams make the top eight and I believe Shelli (Reed) will make the finals in whatever event we put her in,” Schafer said.
