Crowder leads Los Gatos swimmers to team victory

By Dick Sparrer

Bobby Crowder wasn't tough to beat when the Los Gatos swimming team went up against Monta Vista in a league meet before spring break.

No, he wasn't tough to beat... the Los Gatos sophomore was impossible to beat!

Crowder posted a pair of individual victories and helped Gatos to a couple of relay wins, and he did it in impressive fashion.

Crowder broke a minute in the 100-yard backstroke, finishing almost nine seconds ahead of his nearest rival, and he was equally impressive in the 200-yard individual medley.

The talented sophomore covered the 200 IM in 2:05.69, finishing well ahead of teammate Chris Lee, who was second in 2:23.0. Crowder came back to post a 57.58 in the 100 back for a second win.

Crowder and Lee had teamed with Brett Bannan and Rich Comeau for a first in the 200 medley relay in 1:49.76, and Crowder joined Steve Westcott, Phil Roan and Adam Mayer for a win in the 400 free relay in 3:39.45.

Bannan chipped in with a first in the 50 freestyle in 23.79, and he was also second in the 100 butterfly in 1:01.42, with Westcott third in 1:02.57.

Roan was a winner in the 500 free in 5:15.23, with Mayer second in 5:39.49. Mayer was third in the 50 free in 24.98.

Jonathon Clark soared to a first-place finish in diving with 126.98 points to round out the list of Gatos winners.

Lee added a second in the 100 breaststroke, with Phil Carnathan third in 1:17.07; Comeau was second in the 100 free in 56.96, with Brandon Wenz third in 57.04, and Westcott was second in the 200 free in 1:57.49, with Scott Bannan third in 2:02.33.

In girls varsity action the same day, Monta Vista swamped Los Gatos 109-73.

Alix Eastman was a double winner for Los Gatos, and Lisa Cristol and Sara Clark each added victories.

Eastman took the 200 free in 1:58.07, and she came back to win the 500 free in 5:11.17. Cristol was tops in the 100 breast in 1:19.51 and teamed with Eastman, Kacey Ballard and Marian Roan for a win in the 400 free relay in 4:00.89. Cristol was also second in the 200 IM in 2:28.44.

Clark rolled to a diving win with 221.33 points. Jessica Alvarado was second at 146.93.

Roan was second in both the 100 fly in 1:08.13 and the 100 free in 1:00.63. Megan McCarthy was third in the 50 free in 30.68, and Renee Lesea was third in the 100 back in 1:17.81.

The Los Gatos girls junior varsity also lost to Monta Vista, despite individual wins by Jennifer Sampson and Ashley Bloom.

Sampson was first in the 50 breast in 44.35, with Carly Nicosia second, and Bloom was first in diving with 130.05 points, while Allie Bonadies took second.

Lindsay Santos was second in the 100 free, with Adriana Anavitarte third, and other thirds went to Ashley Buthker (200 free/100 back), Monica Young (100 IM) and Kristina Cota (50 free).

The Gatos girls will be back in the water to visit St. Francis on April 21 before both teams head to Palo Alto on April 23.

Baseball loss

The Los Gatos baseball team was in action over spring break, but dropped a tough 4-2 nonleague decision to Los Altos. Jeff Ouellet smashed a two-run homer in the sixth inning for the Wildcats.

Los Gatos returns to league action this week. The Cats host Wilcox on April 21 and Monta Vista on April 22 for a couple of 3:30 p.m. league games before visiting Oak Grove on April 23 in a 3:30 p.m. nonleague game.

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