Pardon Christian Smith if he’s walking around the Hollister High
campus with a big smile on his face.
Pardon Christian Smith if he’s walking around the Hollister High campus with a big smile on his face.
Smith is an integral member of the Baler boys swim team, which pulled away from visiting Gilroy on Wednesday 102-65.
Smith, who went to tiny Pioneer Family Academy in San Jose last year and swims with club team Ospry Aquatics, has gone to the other extreme with the front-running Balers and he’s loving every minute.
Though Smith has qualifed for the Central Coast Section meet with the Baler freestyle relay teams, he swam the first leg of the of the 400-free relay at a 50.9 split, which qualified him for the 100-freestyle, joining teammate Greg Henneman in that event.
“We had four watches on him,” said Baler head coach Joel Sims of Smith’s swift leg.
“I was really happy when coach Sims told me,” said Smith. “I’m looking forward to it. I really wanted to swim an individual event.”
It was a little dicey for the Balers after three events, all won by the Mustangs. But the Balers, showing their depth, took second and third in those three events, then won five events of their own.
Henneman won his specialties – the 50-free (22.46) and 100-free (58.50).
Robbie Shattuck captured the 100-breaststroke in a time of 1:04.70.
The Balers swept the freestyle relays, winning the 200-free relay by a couple of seconds and the 400-free relay by 24 seconds. Smith, Henneman joined Nik Barr and Greg Wilson in both events.
Barr was upset in the 100-backstroke, placing second with a time of 1:04.44.
“I’m pretty sore from weightlifting,” said Barr. “I’ll be back for league finals.”
The Baler girls also stayed undefeated in the Tri-County Athletic League, prevailing 113-51. Hollister won all 11 events, the highlight being the CCS qualifying time of Erin Reed. Reed won the 100-butterfly in a time of 1:04.29.
“I was getting frustrated I was trying so hard,” said Reed. “I’ve been so close so many times before.”
The Balers 200 medley relay team of Jenna DeCoite, Denise Simens, Stacey Lass and Janelle Brandon clocked a 2:04.46.
Brandon came right back to win the 200-free (2:06.78).
Juliana Sih was first in the 200IM (2:21.28). Sih added a win in the 100-free (57.08).
Britta Nordstrom, who has qualifed for five individual events in CCS, doubled in the 50-free (25.69) and the 500-free (5:24.17).
Lass clocked 1:06.06 to take the 100-backstroke.
Simens swam a 1:09.48 in the 100-breast for first place.
Baler head coach Derek Kisling sent Reed, Simens, Sih and Nordstrom to the pool for a winning 200-free time of 1:45.70. Take away Simens and add Lass and that is the Baler 400-free relay team, which was timed at 4:06.56.
The Baler girls haven’t been challenged in the dual’s this year. Kisling expects more of a challenge at the T-CAL’s, May 7 and 9 at Live Oak.
“That should be closer because they score the top 12,” said Kisling. “But our league record going in will help.”
Varsity boys
Hollister 102, Gilroy 65
200 MR – 2. Hollister-Cariato, C. Smith, Shattuck, Gautney 1:50.50 3. Hollister-Kratzer, J. Smith, Zepeda, Dietrich; 200-free – 2. Barr 2:03.43, 3. Gautney 2:08.36; 200-IM – 2. C. Smith 2:15.63, 3. Shattuck 2:22.85; 50-free 1. Henneman 22.46, 3. Wilson 23.95; 100-fly – 2. C. Smith 59.57, 3. J. Smith 1:08.15; 100-free – 1. Henneman 50.44, 2. Gautney 53.48, 3. Wilson 53.84; 500-free – 3. J. Smith 5:58.01; 200-free relay – 1. Hollister-Gautney, Wilson, Barr, Henneman 1:34.61, 3. Hollister-Ward, Valenzuela, Dietrich, Camacho 1:49.19; 100-back 2. Barr 1:04.44, 3. Camacho 1:06.25; 100-breast 1. Shattuck 1:04.70, 2. T. Dietrich 1:10.87; 400-free relay – 1. Hollister-C. Smith, Barr, Wilson, Henneman 3:34.79
Varsity girls
Hollister 113, Gilroy 51
200-MR – 1. Hollister-DeCoite, Simens, Lass, Brandon 2:04.46, 3. Hollister-Telles, Shimer, Smith Russell 2:15,60; 200-free – 1. Brandon 2:06.78; 3. Telles 2:22.01 200-IM – 1. Sih 2:21.28, 3. Rodriguez 2:43.74; 50-free – 1. Nordstrom 25.69; 100-fly – 1. Reed 1:04.29; 100-free – 1. Sih 57.08, 2. Simens 58.47; 500-free – 1. Nordstrom 5:24.17, 2. Simens 58.47; 200-free relay – 1. Hollister -Reed, Simens, Sih Nordstrom 1:45.70, 3. Hollister-DeCoite, Telles, Rodriguez, Russell 2:01.88; 100-back – 1. Lass 1:06.06; 3. Reed 1:10.19; 100-breast – 1. Simens 1:09.48, 2. Shimer 1:18.34; 400-free relay – Hollister-Sih, Lass, Reed, Nordstrom 4:06.54
JV girls
Gilroy 88, Hollister 79
200-free – 1. Cullom 2:42.63; 100IM – 1. Stern 1:21.86; 50-free – 1. Britton 30.86; 100-free – 1. Britton 1:07; 100-breast – 1. Stern 1:32.83
JV boys
Hollister 76, Gilroy 51
200-MR – 1. Hollister-Ashford, Rocha, Bucaloy, Caprino 2:07.40; 200-free – 1. Ashford 2:15.47; 100IM – 1. Bucaloy 1:07.94; 50-free – 1. Caprino 27.36; 50-fly – 1. Ashford 29.50; 100-back – 1. Dain 1:28.54
