Coming into last year’s final Tri-County Athletic League championship meet, the San Benito girls swimming and diving team was looking to win its fourth consecutive league title. Because of an early split-second leap in the 400-yard freestyle relay, though, that fourth straight title was taken from their grasp.
With a new year, San Benito – still led by top swimmers Caitlin Schafer and Rachel Estep – expects to be at the top again after a one-year absence. After last year’s disqualification, the Balers have all the motivation they need.
“We have a lot more competition,” SBHS head coach Christine Schafer said. “Well this year, I know the girls want to win the league title. Last year killed them. That was really hard. So they want to very badly take that and it’s really just a question of how deep we are compared to the other teams.”
Once again, Salinas – with more than 100 swimmers – will be the Balers’ toughest test during the season. Combined with the addition of Monterey, Schafer knows it will be a tough – but feasible – task for the Balers.
“I believe we can win league, although on the girls side we have one diver – maybe,” she said. “And on the boys side we have four divers. We have a lot of boys diving strength and inexperienced swimming team. On the girls side we have the one diver but we have the strong swim team. So it depends on what Monterey and Salinas high school have. A lot of times that can make the difference.”
Schafer continued: “Really, you just take what you get every year. You put it together the best that you can.”
Because of that, the girls team will be loaded with both younger and older swimmers. With leaders in Estep and Schafer, the team should be in good hands.
“I’m expecting them to. They’ve already qualified two relays for CCS and we have one more to qualify,” Schafer said. “I’m expecting them to qualify in their individual events. I’m looking to see some of our younger players to qualify as well.”
The key for that success, though, will be staying healthy – something that hurt them a year ago.
“It’s going to be real interesting,” Schafer said. “It’s a question whether we can stay injury free. Last year, we lost a couple of girls toward the end. That was detrimental to our overall performance. This year we need to stay healthy. It’s an interesting year.”
On the boys side, with the loss of all-league performer Quinn Six, San Benito will look to Jordan Dain on the diving team to establish some consistency, Schafer said.
“He is a senior – I would love to see him do well,” she said. “He almost made the top 12 last year. I know his goal is to get into the top 10 and the top group. He is more serious. You see the difference that the maturity makes. The other divers are young and they have their future ahead of them. It’s fun to watch them grow and get through the stages. Diving is all good until you get into the high pressure meets at the end. That’s where things happen. One bad dive and everything is done. He’ll help the younger divers get better.”
With only 12 seniors on the boys roster of 30, the Balers will rely on Dylan Ponzio and others in the pool.
“There isn’t a lot of experience but it should be interesting,” she said. “It’s a building year.”
In two meets this year, both teams are 1-1. The Baler boys team defeated Christopher 109-64 but lost to Valley Christian 115-48. The girls squad defeated Christopher 124-41 but lost to Valley Christian 90-82.
