After qualifying to CCS in seven individual events, San Benito’s
Czsarina Isleta had the enviable option of picking what race she
would compete in this weekend
At the beginning of the season, with her San Benito swim team
undefeated and fresh off a victory against North Salinas, freshman
Czsarina Isleta held grand goals
— goals that extended far beyond the school’s dual meets within
the Tri-County Athletic League.
When asked simply what her aspirations were this year
— the reporter expecting an answer revolving around league
titles, section championships or something of the like — Isleta
said that she wanted to beat Madison White, who doesn’t compete for
Salinas or Gilroy or any other team in the TCAL, nor does she even
compete within the Central Coast Secti
on.
After qualifying to CCS in seven individual events, San Benito’s Czsarina Isleta had the enviable option of picking what race she would compete in this weekend
At the beginning of the season, with her San Benito swim team undefeated and fresh off a victory against North Salinas, freshman Czsarina Isleta held grand goals — goals that extended far beyond the school’s dual meets within the Tri-County Athletic League.
When asked simply what her aspirations were this year — the reporter expecting an answer revolving around league titles, section championships or something of the like — Isleta said that she wanted to beat Madison White, who doesn’t compete for Salinas or Gilroy or any other team in the TCAL, nor does she even compete within the Central Coast Section.
White, who is 15 and one year older than Isleta, competes for the Crow Canyon club team out of Danville, and, at the age of 13, qualified to the Olympic Trials in both the 100- and 200-meter backstroke.
“That’s my goal,” Isleta said of her club rival. “I don’t think I’m that close yet. I’m about 15 seconds behind in the 200 back.”
Having such far-reaching goals may have only made Isleta that much hungrier in the pool, though, and it certainly showed this season for the Lady Balers.
Although there is a limit to how many events one swimmer can compete in at the year-end meet, the San Benito freshman qualified to this weekend’s CCS Swimming and Diving Championships in all seven individual events, and also qualified in all three relays as well, leaving few regular-season accomplishments, if any, that Isleta didn’t reach.
In fact, she didn’t even lose a race during the regular season — first place every time.
San Benito head coach Christine Schafer said last year was the first year they had swimmers try and knock out each and every CCS-qualifying time over the course of the regular season, and Isleta is the second to do so — Shelli Reed, who currently competes at the University of New Hampshire, was the first last season.
“It’s a hard sport, so we do things that will make it more challenging and fun,” said Schafer, who noted that the CCS actually lowered the standards this season, making it slightly more difficult to clock a qualifying time.
“And I think she has more room for improvement,” Schafer added. ”
She’s muscular and well trained, but she’s not maxed out.”
Picking up the sport while watching a San Benito Aquatics meet in the second grade, Isleta, now 14, fell in love with the sport almost immediately. She had no idea at the time that her mother, Cecille, was a strong swimmer while in the Philippines, nor did she realize her younger sister, Chloe, would carry the same admiration for a sport often deemed difficult and boring.
“But I like to win,” said Isleta, who used to play volleyball while in the seventh- and eighth-grade. “I like to hang out with my friends and swim, so it’s not boring.
“But the sport is kind of hard, and it takes a lot of practice.”
Taught by her mother how to swim when she was 5, Isleta didn’t begin competitions until she was 9 when she joined the club team at Rovella’s Athletic Club in Hollister. Under the tutelage of Dave Steele, Isleta, along with her sister Chloe, who was ranked No. 1 in the nation in both the 200 IM and 400 IM among all 11-year-olds earlier this year, began to develop strong technique at an early age, which only helped offset her smallish 5-foot-2 frame.
“In terms of ability, she has more natural ability as anyone I’ve ever coached,” Steele said. “She’s a fall-out-of-bed type of athlete.
“She does the workouts. But the thing that sets her apart is her amazing natural ability.”
And Isleta’s dolphin kick only further helps her while in the pool. The fast freshman relied on her under water swimming at last Friday’s TCAL Championships in Salinas, where Isleta was a two-time champion after winning both the 50 free (25.12) and 100 free (55.08).
“If you’ve got a good dolphin kick, you want to spend as much time under water as you legally can,” said Schafer, noting the trendy swim style that was popularized by Michael Phelps. “And she is really good under water, with a really good feel for the water.”
The two events Isleta competed in at TCALs — the 50 and 100 free — aren’t even her strongest events, though. San Benito simply used Isleta to score valuable points in those races, and keep Gilroy’s Michelle Shields from doing the same.
“We talked about it,” Schafer said. “Her season time (in the 100 free) was not as good as Michelle had done, but she likes to win. She likes to race, and I had no worries that in a man-to-man race, she would give up anything. And she didn’t.
“In fact, there is no one in this pool that will give up anything. They’re all fiercely competitive.”
San Benito will send a total of 14 swimmers to CCS, which begins Friday at the Santa Clara International Swim Center with preliminary rounds. Although most will be a part of the six relay teams that will be in attendance, Graham Spurzem (200 free, 100 back), Demi Gatrell (200 IM, 100 fly), Quinn Six (200 IM, 100 back) and Jessie Drogemuller (500 free) will all compete as individuals.
Isleta, as a member of the 400 free relay and medley relay, will also compete in the 200 IM, where she is ranked ninth in the CCS, and the 100 breast, where she is ranked 11th. Only the top eight move on to Saturday’s championship round, though, while those who finish in spots nine through 16 during prelims advance to Saturday’s consolation round.
“I’m gonna try to get to finals and improve my time,” she said.
“It just depends on how hard I work.”
