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Wildcats swim to big wins over Los Altos
Squads now 2-1
By Dick Sparrer
It didn't mean a league championship. It wasn't even a battle for first place.
But the Los Gatos girls and boys varsity swimming teams each splashed to victories over Los Altos last week, they were big wins indeed ... at least, for head coach Stacey Lonaker.
"The varsity teams haven't beaten Los Altos since I've been here," said Lonaker, in her third season as a Gatos swim coach. "So this was exciting."
The Los Gatos boys swamped Los Altos 104-80 and the Gatos girls pulled out a thrilling 94-91 win over the Eagles.
The Wildcats improved to 2-1 in the De Anza Division in both girls and boys action with the two wins. The squads opened the season with wins over Lynbrook, but lost a week later to powerful Gunn.
It was a diving win by junior sensation Sara Clark that helped the Wildcats clinch the girls win over Los Altos. The swimming action was complete when Clark, who finished second in the Central Coast Section last year, won the meet's final event.
Junior Marian Roan and sophomore Catherine Eastman each posted a pair of individual wins and made up half of two winning relays to spark the Cats to the win over the Eagles.
Roan sprinted to a win in the 100-yard freestyle in 56.16 and she was also first in the 200 free in 1:59.49. Eastman breezed to a win in the 100 butterfly in 1:05.19 and she was also a winner in the 500 free in 5:25.49.
Roan and Eastman teamed with freshman Gabby H'dez and sophomore Rebecca Stein for a win in the 200 free relay in 1:47.94 and the foursome also took the 400 free relay in 3:51.14.
H'dez supported with a first in the 200 individual medley in 2:21.68 and a second in the 100 backstroke in 1:06.86. Stein was a winner in the 50 free in 27.11 and added a second in the 100 fly in 1:06.32.
Soph Kristen Gonzales chipped in with a second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:18.08.
The Crowder brothers sparked the Gatos boys to the win over the Eagles.
Bobby Crowder was a double winner for the Cats and was also a member of the winning 200 medley relay team. The senior won the 200 IM in 2:02.25 and the 100 back in 59.21, and he joined forces with Chris Lee, Brian Williams and Brett Bannon for a win in the medley relay in 1:48.14.
Richie Crowder, a sophomore, won a pair of events for the Cats, taking the 200 free in 1:48.15 and the 100 free in 48.08.
Williams, a freshman, was first in the 500 free in 5:12.27 and second in the 100 fly in 1:01.02.
Seniors Bannon, Lee and Nathan Sheffer also posted wins for the Wildcats. Bannon took the 50 free in 23.03, Lee was first in the 100 breast in 1:06.65 and Sheffer won the diving event.
Senior Adam Mayer supported with a second in the 100 breast in 1:09.69 and a third in the 200 IM in 2:14.99, and freshman Eric Soung was third in both the 100 back in 1:03.23 and the 500 free in 5:40.84.
The Gatos boys junior varsity team rolled to a 120-36 win over Los Altos to improve to 2-1 in the young season. Frank Schonig, a sophomore, was first in the 50 fly and 200 free to lead the Gatos effort.
The Los Gatos girls lost 94-88 to Los Altos in girls JV action. The Cats slipped to 1-2 for the year.
Colette Hudes, Brittany Shand, Angie Marques and Candice Maldanado teamed for a win in the 200 medley relay.
Hudes won the 100 back, Marques the 50 fly, Maldanado the 50 free and Agata Kosmalska the 100 IM. Amy Niswonger was second in both the 200 free and 500 free.
Girls Swimming
Roan, Eastman, Stein and Clark are top returners for the Wildcats this spring.
Roan and Eastman figure to lead the club in the distance free events with Stein solid in the freestyle sprints and the fly. Clark is a top returning diver.
"We have a young girls team this year," said Lonaker. "We only have two seniors and four juniors. Our freshmen and sophomores are the bulk of our team."
H'dez, Kellin Dunne and Katie Lampe are top freshman prospects in the pool for the Wildcats.
"[H'dez] is a strong addition to this team," added the coach. "She's a well-rounded swimmer."
Dunne gives the Cats depth in the sprints and the backstroke, and Lampe is a solid diver.
Boys Swimming
Seniors B. Crowder, Lee, Rich Comeau, Bannon and Sheffer, along with soph R. Crowder, are top returners for the Los Gatos boys this season.
"We should have a fairly strong team this year," said Lonaker, in her first season as the boys coach after two years coaching just the girls. "I expect a strong finish from this team. They are a fast group, probably the fastest team at this school in a while."
B. Crowder is back to lead the squad in the backstroke with R. Crowder and Bannon starring in the sprints, Comeau in the sprints and fly, and Lee in the breast.
Sheffer joins Clark as a top returner in the diving event for the Wildcats. The senior was third in CCS last year.
"We also have two freshmen who should have a good first season," said Lonaker, singling out Williams and Soung.
Williams is a top prospect in the distance free events, and Soung looks strong in the back and fly.
All meets away
The Wildcats will have no home meets this season because they weren't sure what the condition of the pool would be with all of the construction at the school.
The Gatos boys will be idle this week while the girls visit St. Francis on March 30, 3 p.m. Both teams will be back in action on April 6 at Monta Vista.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
