Many who follow the local swimming scene in Hollister were well
aware of the incoming talent this season at San Benito High.
Freshmen Czsarina Isleta and Graham Spurzem had made headlines
in years past while swimming for their club team at Rovella’s,
competing at a high level that perhaps only smoothed the mental
edge of competing in high school.
But even then, not everyone realized this year’s freshmen
crop
— Isleta and Spurzem included — would be as good as it has
been.
HOLLISTER
Many who follow the local swimming scene in Hollister were well aware of the incoming talent this season at San Benito High.
Freshmen Czsarina Isleta and Graham Spurzem had made headlines in years past while swimming for their club team at Rovella’s, competing at a high level that perhaps only smoothed the mental edge of competing in high school.
But even then, not everyone realized this year’s freshmen crop — Isleta and Spurzem included — would be as good as it has been.
“They’re my competition for club, so I knew what was coming in,” said Demi Gatrell, who is one of just eight seniors on a San Benito varsity team this season that boasts about 36 swimmers.
“But I didn’t think they’d play such a big factor in our entire team,” Gatrell added. “I knew they’d be fast, but not this fast.”
Just last week during a dual meet against North Salinas, Gatrell posted a Central Coast Section-qualifying time in the 100 fly, clocking a 1:02.60.
She finished in second place to Isleta, though — the first-year Lady Baler recording a 1:01.17.
“I’m kind of used to it now,” said Isleta of competing at the prep level. “I was kind of nervous the first time, but it’s a little easier now.”
Isleta, who is part of San Benito’s three CCS-bound relay teams, showed no sign of her youth earlier this season when she posted section-qualifying times in six individual events during her first three meets, including the 100 back, 100 free, 100 fly, 100 breast, 200 free and 200 IM.
Spurzem, meanwhile, has clocked two individual CCS times (200 IM, 100 back) and is part of three CCS relay teams, including the 200 medley relay, which fell short of qualifying to the section meet during all of last season.
“Just going for (CCS) cuts,” said Spurzem, who stands 6-foot-1. “Not overthinking anything. We’re just in the pool and swimming.”
The two freshmen have only complemented a set of strong returning swimmers for San Benito this season, though, including Gatrell, Caitlin Schafer and Rachel Estep among the girls, Nick Angulo, Sebastian Forbush and Josh Schafer among the boys.
Last year, both the Baler boys and Lady Balers earned the Tri-County Athletic League title, and despite losing plenty of senior leadership from those teams — not to mention three swimmers who are currently competing at the collegiate level — San Benito has started this season nearly perfect, winning all but one meet.
“We’re kind of like a family — a dysfunctional family — but a family,” joked Forbush, who is one of just three seniors on the boys team. “We had a good team before. We lost a lot of seniors, but we brought a lot up from the junior varsity.”
And the Balers even lucked out when Quinn Six transferred to San Benito from Santa Teresa this year, and only added to the suddenly youthful makeup of the team. The sophomore swimmer is a part of San Benito’s three relay teams and has qualified individually toward CCS in both the 200 IM and the 100 back.
“We’re a very young team,” San Benito head coach Christine Schafer said. “But all these freshmen are pretty good.”
The Balers are so young that three freshmen swim on the girls’ 200 medley relay, while two freshmen are included in both the 200 free and 400 free relays — all of which have qualified to CCS.
On the boys side, the team’s medley relay includes two sophomores and a freshman.
“It’s amazing,” Gatrell said.
With its straight sweep over Gilroy easily the team’s most impressive win yet, Schafer said she’s not surprised by the performance of her team to date, despite its youthful makeup. The team is currently undefeated in the TCAL, with its lone loss coming in the very first meet of the season — a non-conference matchup with Valley Christian.
“A lot of the kids on the current varsity don’t swim year-round, but they step up and they work together,” Schafer said. “They get behind each other.”
With the youthful insurgence mixing nicely with the experienced veterans, San Benito has its sights set on a successful TCAL-title defense, no matter how much talent was lost to graduation last year.
As usual, San Benito, Salinas and Gilroy are expected to take control of the TCAL reigns this season, while the Haybalers will look to stay ahead on Wednesday and Thursday when perhaps their biggest rival in Salinas visits Hollister for a TCAL showdown.
“As we teach them how to do stuff, they teach us to work harder,” Gatrell said of the underclassmen. “If the freshmen can do it, we can too.”
