Gatos swimmers qualify for CCS--in first meet

By Dick Sparrer

It may have been just the first dual meet of the season, but Los Gatos swimming coach Stacie Lonaker was already talking about CCS. And for good reason. Because four of her swimmers and three relay teams jumped out to a quick start by recording Central Coast Section qualifying times in the first meet of the league season.

Bobby Crowder and Brett Bannan nailed CCS qualifying times in boys action, and Alex Eastman and Lisa Cristol were Gatos girls claiming section qualifying marks.

But Lonaker had more to brag about than just the fact that Los Gatos swimmers will advance to CCS--the Wildcats also nailed a victory.

The Gatos boys turned back Lynbrook 105-71 in the first meet of the season in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Crowder and Bannan, a pair of talented Los Gatos sophomores, led the Cats to the team victory. Crowder took the 200-yard freestyle and the 100 backstroke, both with CCS qualifying marks, and Bannon won the 50 free and 100 free. Bannon earned a CCS qualifying time in the 50.

Junior Phillip Roane and sophomore Chris Lee were also individual winners for Los Gatos. Roane took the 500 free, and Lee was first in the 100 breaststroke.

Crowder, Lee, Bannan and sophomore Adam Mayer teamed for a win in the 200 medley relay, and Crowder and Bannan joined forces with seniors Taylor Hendricks and Steve Westcott to win the 400 free relay. Both teams qualified for CCS.

The Gatos girls, meanwhile, had to settle for a 90-90 tie with Lynbrook.

Cristol and Eastman were each double winners for the Wildcats in the meet.

Cristol, a senior, won the 500 free in a CCS qualifying time, and she finished first in the 200 individual medley. Eastman, a junior, was first in both the 100 butterfly and 100 back, both with CCS qualifying times.

Los Gatos lost both ends of a league meet to Gunn last week. The Gatos boys lost 110-70 to the Titans, and the girls fell 118-66.

Crowder was a double winner, and Westcott and Roan each breezed to victories, but the Los Gatos boys lost to the Titans.

Crowder took the 200 IM in 2:10.80 and came back to win the 100 back in 56.06.

Westcott was first in the 200 free in 1:55.80, and Roan was tops in the 500 free in 5:15.62.

Crowder and Westcott teamed with Lee and Bannan for a victory in the 200 medley relay in 1:46.62.

Cristol took the 500 free in 5:31.44 for the only Los Gatos win of the day in the girls' meet.

The Gatos boys are now 1-1 in dual meet action and the girls are 0-1-1.

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