Anzar High athletes may not have a pool to call home, but that
hasn’t stopped them from competing even without an official
budget.
Anzar High athletes may not have a pool to call home, but that hasn’t stopped them from competing even without an official budget.
Parents of members are frequently drafted to help shuttle the swimmers to and from meets and practices. And swimmers are asked to cover the costs of swimming such as aparel and travel costs.
For the last two years, Anzar athletes have been training each afternoon at Gilroy High School about 10 miles to the north of the small high school just outside of San Juan Bautista.
The team competes in the Mission Trail Athletic League along with York High School. At times having to piggyback with another school can be a little awkward because meets normally involve just two schools.
“Everyone in the league has been real accommodating for us,” said Hawks coach Debra Stone, who helped get the swim team started three years ago. “The parents have also been great. Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do it.”
During the first year, the team trained with the Gilroy Gators club team, but the $70 monthly charge was more than the team could afford.
Stone approached Gilroy High Athletic Director Jack Daley and requested permission to train at the Gilroy High pool with the Mustangs because of the proximity.
Daley said it would be fine as long as neither of the Gilroy coaches minded. Both coaches agreed they could make it work.
“It has really been a labor of love,” said Gilroy JV coach Andy Been, who does most of the training of the Anzar team. “They really bring a different spirit to practice. They are really fun to be around. They are always the underdogs. We are normally underdogs too, so it makes the perfect fit.”
Having a few extra people in the pool hasn’t created any problems, Been said. Even as the team has grown to 15 members this season, there has still been enough room.
“Sometimes it gets a little rocky having that many kids swim at the same time,” Been said. “But anything that makes it tougher, makes it that much more easier during meets. It all works out OK. Everyone gets along with each other. There are only a couple days we have a full pool.”
The swimmers split up between two lanes. One group stays with the JV swimmers while the others swim on the varsity side.
But during the meets, all the Anzar swimmers compete on the varsity and most usually swim in a couple events.
Katie McGowan, one of two seniors on the team, has participated in competitive cheer and gymnastics in addition to swimming. She transferred to Anzar from Monte Vista Christian School after her freshman year.
“Even though that was a larger team, I like swimming here better,” she said. “It’s a fun group to be around.”
Kelsey Stone, who is the vocal leader on the team and the other team captain, said the Hawks spirit has made it fun.
“We are a close-knit group,” Stone said. “Everyone gets along. It is fun doing something that not many people have done before at the school.”
Two of the top athletes on the team are Erika Rodriquez and Bethany Ellison. Both athletes are close to recording Central Coast Section qualifying times.
Rodriquez recorded a top score of 1:08 earlier this year in the 100 butterfly – just four seconds shy of a CCS berth. She finished first against King City and RLS. Rodriquez also took second in the 200 IM against King City.
Ellison, a freshman who is hoping to make the Olympics as a synchronized swimmer, came in first in the 50 freestyle against RLS with a time of 28:10 and first against King City with a 28:59. A time of 26:39 is needed for CCS. She took second in the 100 freestyle against King City and RLS.
“Doing the water acrobatics really makes her a better swimmer because she has to have strong stomach muscles,” Been said.
Bri Gottlieb came in second in King City in the 100 breaststroke and second in 50 freestyle. She competed in a national cheerleading competition before the season began and had just a couple days of practice before her first meet.
Denise Fryn is the lone long distance swimmer for the Hawks. In the 500, she came in third in both of the meets.
“She is really motivated,” Stone said. “She just goes out there and does it. She has taken off a minute of her time from last year.”
McGowan, Stone, Rodriquez and Ellison were second in the 200 medley against King City. The quartet also finished second in the 200 free relay as well.
The 400 freestyle relay team of Fryn, Alice Medland, Megan Marks and Megan Frusetta took second also in the meet. The Hawks lost their last meet 93-60 to King City, but Stone was encouraged at how they continue to improve.
Anzar will be at Carmel on Wednesday.
