After dominant performance, San Benito sets sights on defeating
Live Oak next week in TCAL Championships
Hollister – Its final regular season meet complete, the San Benito swimming team now turns its full attention to the postseason. With victory against undermanned Alvarez merely a formality Friday, the ‘Balers geared their performance toward the last-minute adjustments needed before next week’s Tri-County Athletic League Championships.
After nearly a month away from competitive meets and following a host of recent hard practices, San Benito knew it wouldn’t post its best times of the year, but nonetheless overwhelmed its opponent. The varsity boys prevailed 132-34, while the varsity girls won 120-45.
“It’s kind of nice to get back into it,” Katie Buzzetta said after winning the 100-yard backstroke in 1:09.93. “Get warmed up before TCALs.”
The girls hadn’t competed since defeating North Salinas on April 7, while the boys last saw action against Salinas on March 31.
Brandon Drogemuller said he and his teammates made sure to enjoy their last dual meet while pointing to the league meet as where their focus lies.
“Today, I was just having fun with the meet,” said Drogemuller, who took first in the 500-yard freestyle. “We’ve been training hard. We weren’t tapered for this. Next week, we’ll be ready for TCALs.”
Altering the lineup to try some different combinations, the ‘Balers still emerged with comfortable victories across the board. The Lady ‘Balers had a clean sweep of the first-place finishes, while the ‘Baler boys failed to take first in just one of the 11 events.
Freshmen Shelli Reed (100 butterfly & 100 breast) and Lacey Larson (50 & 100 free) won multiple events for the Lady ‘Balers, while David Smith took first in the 100 and 200-yard freestyle races for the boys.
San Benito boys coach Leif Nordstrom said a few spots were still up for grabs with the league meet set for Live Oak next Friday.
Asked what he was hoping to accomplish with the Alvarez meet quickly becoming a rout, Nordstrom said, “For me, to get my last looks at how the boys are doing for deciding who’s going to be in what relay for TCALs and even some individual adjustments.”
Nordstrom had a keen eye on the 50-yard freestyle race and was pleased with John Kaplanis’ 24.45 first-place finish. That time may move Kaplanis into the fourth and final TCAL spot allotted to the ‘Balers, behind teammates David and Joel Smith and Blane Curtice.
Swimming in the 100-yard breaststroke for the first time this year, Curtice posted a CCS-qualifying time with his 1:05.30 finish. Curtice and Dave Smith have now qualified for the section championships in seven of the eight individual events.
On the girls’ side, Reed has recorded CCS-worthy times in all eight individual events.
The ‘Balers now set their sights on winning the TCAL Championships. Live Oak figures to be the biggest obstacle in San Benito’s path for titles in the boys’ and girls’ ranks. After the ‘Baler boys secured a narrow 103-84 victory over the Acorns on March 17, the team’s first in five seasons, Nordstrom knows the league meet will offer heated competition.
“They have a few All Stars,” Nordstrom said of the Acorns. “We’re about the same as far as numbers go. I honestly think that on any given day, it could go either way.”
After the girls finished third in 2005 behind Live Oak and Salinas, coach Stephanie Pursley hopes that her team can take the title this season. Acknowledging that the Lady ‘Balers are at a disadvantage without any divers, the San Benito girls’ coach nevertheless believes a league championship is possible.
“I think if they stick together and push through it, we can win,” said Pursley, who looked forward to seeing her girls tested next Friday. “When they have competition, they swim better. Swimming against each other, they do that in practice.”
On the heels of a 120-76 loss to Live Oak earlier this season, the Lady ‘Balers’ only loss in a TCAL dual meet, Pursley said her swimmers are gunning for the Acorns.
“This year, it’s been focused toward TCALs because this is the last year Live Oak is in our league, but it’s also focused toward CCS.”
Buzzetta said the Lady ‘Balers are raring to go.
“I think it’s going to be a really good meet,” Buzzetta related. “A lot of close swims. Everyone’s going to have to perform their best.”
The TCAL Diving Championships begin at Sobrato on Wednesday at 11am. Jason Andrade and Jeff Scibuola will compete for the ‘Baler boys. The TCAL Swimming Championships begin at Live Oak on Friday at 2pm.
