Hollister High has a chance to make history in more ways than
one Saturday when the Tri-County Athletic League swimming
championships take place at Live Oak High’s pool.
Hollister High has a chance to make history in more ways than one Saturday when the Tri-County Athletic League swimming championships take place at Live Oak High’s pool.
Take your pick.
The Baler boys have a chance to become the first team to ever win a boys league title. The Baler girls, who won their first-ever league championship a year ago, have a chance to win their second straight league crown for the first time ever. And finally, should both Baler boys and girls win on Saturday, that would be a first for the pair securing titles in the same year.
The Baler boys, though, will have to start behind Live Oak in the team standings. The Acorns went 1, 2 and 4 at Wednesday’s diving competition. Hollister got a fifth from Danny Valenzuela and an eighth from freshman Rick Ward.
The Baler boys, undefeated during the dual meet season, have the horses to rally. Head coach Joel Sims said he has several potential first place finishers on his squad, plus all three relays that have a chance to win, as well.
“Greg Henneman can win the 50 and 100-freestyle,” said Smith. “Christian Smith has a chance to win the 500-free and even the 100-free. Nik Barr should contend in the 200-free and 100-backstroke. Both are freestyle relays should win and we might even sneak in and win the 200-Medley Relay.”
The Balers Robbie Shattuck should be in the mix in the 100-breaststroke, as well. Another top performer is Zach Gautney, who will compete in the 50 and 100-free events, plus two relays. Greg Wilson is a strong competitor in the freestyle events.
The relay teams consist of: Barr, Gautney, Wilson and Henneman (200-free); Barr, Wilson, Smith and Henneman (400-free); Gautney, Shattuck, Smith and Aaron Camacho (200-MR).
All three relay teams have qualified for CCS. Henneman is in with his 50 and 100-free times, while Smith has qualifed in the 100-free and Shattuck in the 100-breast.
Gautney is hoping he can make it to CCS in his final chance. He has a PR in the 50 of 23.7 and in the 100-free of 53.6.
“I’m really close,” said Gautney, who will attend UC-Santa Cruz next year. “I think I can get it in the 50-free.”
As far as the team competition goes, Smith thinks Gilroy and Live Oak will be the stiffest challengers. Barr said the Balers should be in good shape.
“We talked about a possible co-championship,” said Barr. “Now we’ve made up our minds to win it (outright). Live Oak should give us the toughest competition individually. Gilroy will battle us in the team standings. But, we want to go undefeated and be the first boys team to win a swim title.”
Girls
Baler girls coach Derek Kisling admits his Balers won last year’s title because of depth. The top 12 places are scored at the league meet, hence, the Balers need every able body available – junior varsity, as well as, varsity. Kisling brings a roster of 24 swimmers to Live Oak Saturday.
The Balers, who went undefeated in dual meets, will have to win without the services of Denise Simens, who doesn’t swim on Saturdays due to religious reasons. In addition, one of the better swimmers on the team quit due to undisclosed reasons.
“We have to have other girls step up,” said Kisling. “That’s what happened last year. The JV girls really came through for us. They’ll have to do it again this year.”
Kisling predicts Live Oak and Salinas to give his Balers the toughest competition on Saturday. The Balers barely beat Salinas in the dual meet last week 97-85.
Like the Baler boys, the Baler girls will have their share of first placers.
-Britta Nordstrom, who won the 50-free and was second in the 100-free a year ago, is favored to win the 50-free and will be a favorite in the 200-free. She has qualified for CCS in all four freestyle events and the 200-IM.
-Stacey Lass is strong in the 100-back and the 500-free.
“Stacey has been swimming fantastic for us this year,” said Kisling.
-Juliana Sih should contribute in the 100-free and 100-breast.
-Erin Reed should contend in the 100-fly.
The success of the Balers could come down to the relays.
“If we win all three relays, that would make it a lot easier for us,” said Kisling.
Here are the three Baler relay teams for Saturday:
-Lass, Sih, Amanda Rodriguez and Kathryn Adamek (200MR)
-Reed, Adamek, Brandy Russell and Nordstrom (200-free)
-Lass, Reed, Sih and Nordstrom (400-free)
“The whole team is coming together,” said Lass. “We should be OK.”
“Our relays have an excellent chance to win every event,” added Nordstrom. “We’re going to have to pull it out.”
Note: Brianna Griffith placed 11th at the diving competition Wednesday. The Balers’ other diver, Jennifer Tremblay, couldn’t compete because of an exam.
