If the Hollister High boys swim team is ever going to break the
ice as far as winning a league swim title, this could be the
year.
If the Hollister High boys swim team is ever going to break the ice as far as winning a league swim title, this could be the year.
With the advent of the Tri-County Athletic League, perennial power Monterey is out. Live Oak and Salinas are still in. Still, with the talent this Baler team has, it should be the league favorite.
The Balers are at Live Oak this Friday at 3 p.m.
“I expect we’ll break the school record in the 400-free relay,” said senior Nik Barr. “And maybe the 200-free relay, too.”
The secret weapon may be senior Christian Smith, a transfer from the San Jose area. Smith joins senior Greg Henneman as the team’s two top sprinters. Henneman was just outside of the top 16 last year at CCS in the 50-free and the 100-free. Senior Greg Wilson will also score points in the freestyle.
Barr’s best event is the backstroke. Robbie Shattuck, a junior, is the best Baler in the breaststroke. Smith and Henneman are the two top butterfliers on the team.
Junior Aaron Camacho, the team’s top diver, will fill in for some swim events, including the relays. Tanner Dietrich is a well-rounded swimmer for head coach Joel Sims.
Joining Camacho on the one-meter board are Danny Valenzuela, Ben Dietrich and Rick Ward.
“Live Oak lost some swimmers last year,” said Sims, in his fourth season. “Salinas is one of the teams to beat because of their depth. Gilroy has some tough swimmers, too.”
Sims., a member of the 1980 Olympic team which didn’t travel to Moscow, expects all relay teams to be very fast.
“I expect to be in the top eight of CCS,” said Sims.
2003 swim schedule
March 7 – at Live Oak
March 21 – at Gilroy
March 27 – at Notre Dame
April 4 – Salinas
April 9 – at North Salinas
April 11 – Live Oak
April 30 – Gilroy
May 2 – Notre Dame
May 7 – at Salinas
May 9 – North Salinas
May 14 – T-CAL championships at Live Oak
All meets are T-CAL dual meets starting at 3 p.m.
