Team expects competition from Salinas, Gilroy
Swimmers from San Benito and Salinas are nothing but a bunch of
flip-floppers.
Two years in
Team expects competition from Salinas, Gilroy
Swimmers from San Benito and Salinas are nothing but a bunch of flip-floppers.
Two years in a row now, the rival schools have switched spots atop the Tri-County Athletic League standings, with the Lady Balers scoring a runner-up position in 2007 but earning the league title last season, whereas the Baler boys finished runner-up last season, one year removed from claiming the league title.
And it should be more of the same this year in the TCAL – Salinas-San Benito, San Benito-Salinas.
“We all have really good swimmers,” San Benito head coach Christine Schafer said. “But the question is what do you have underneath that.
“How deep are you?”
The defending TCAL champion Lady Balers are expected to be deep enough. Anchored by Shelli Reed, Celina Stotler, Lacey Larson and Demi Gatrell, the girls team has already pushed through one relay team and three individuals to the Central Coast Section meet at the end of the season.
“We have quite a bit more depth in all the strokes with the girls,” Schafer said.
And depth certainly flexed its muscle last Friday, when the Lady Balers easily downed visiting Gilroy 131-40 in Hollister.
It was the 200 medley relay of Reed, Gatrell, Stotler and Larson that recorded a 1:58.02 for San Benito last Friday against Gilroy – a time that qualified the foursome to the CCS meet – while Stotler (100 fly, 1:02.91), Gatrell (100 breast, 1:12.76) and Reed (100 free, 53.58; 100 back, 1:01.82) have already posted CCS-worthy times as individuals.
“I’m hoping more kids qualify as individuals (than last year),” said Schafer, now in her second year. Last year’s squad saw three divers, nine individual swimmers and all six relay teams qualify to the CCS championships, where the boys finished 34th and the girls grabbed 14th.
While Salinas remains the top competition for the Lady Balers this year in the TCAL, the Baler boys will have their hands full against both Salinas and Gilroy.
“We’re ahead of where we were last year,” Schafer said. “But it’s gonna be tough. It’s gonna be an extremely tough TCALs because it’s gonna be a three-way battle between us, Gilroy and Salinas.”
And although the boys defeated Gilroy in the league opener last Friday, it was a collective effort, to say the least. San Benito narrowly edged Gilroy 93-90, and scored 13 points in the diving portion, which the Mustangs did not compete in.
“Our divers were the difference,” Schafer said afterward.
“Gilroy has an extremely talented team, and they have more this year than last year. So then it comes down to how good of shape we are in the end.”
As of right now, Schafer said the Baler boys are freestyle-heavy, leaving certain holes in other events, notably the breast stroke competition.
Kyle Reuther is currently the leading swimmer in that event, while freshmen Nathan Thomas, Josh Schafer and Tyler Reuther continue to show potential.
But with plenty of swimmers clogging the freestyle event, Schafer is trying to spread the wealth to other areas.
“We’re trying to see where we can do better in now and in the end,” she said.
The Balers will be led by Brandon Drogemuller, who’s already qualified in two relays and two individual events, including the 200 IM (2:03.74) and the 100 fly (56.41).
The 200 free relay of Drogemuller, Jordan Schafer, Matt McCullough and Kyle Reuther qualified for CCS (1:34.84) as well, as did the 400 free relay of Drogemuller, Ryan Whiteside, Schafer and McCullough (3:30.25).
The dive team, which was full of first-year divers last season, now has a year of experience under its belt to help push San Benito along. Jennifer Raine is a returning CCS qualifier, while Kelsey Larson and Tiffany Hill return as well.
On the boys side, sophomore Jake Vargas returns, as does Jeff Scibuola, who took a year off after competing his freshman and sophomore years.
“I think they’ll be very, very strong,” Schafer said.
“We’re focusing on performing well and bringing everyone up so we can show well at TCALs.”
