Los Gatos Weekly-Times

Lux stars for Los Gatos at swim finals

By Dick Sparrer

The Central Coast Section finals mark the end of another swimming and diving season.

But Los Gatos coach Jeff Dunasky has to see this weekend's event as only a beginning.

Sure, the Wildcats will wind up the season at the CCS finals at Independence High School in East San Jose on May 7-9. But so many of the Wildcats in the meet are underclassmen that the Gatos coach has to be looking ahead to the big things that could be coming for the Los Gatos swimming program.

Freshmen swimmers Brett Bannan and Adam Mayer join freshmen divers Nate Sheffer, Ryan Moore and Jessica Alvarado as CCS qualifiers in their first year of high school competition. Sophomores Megan Greenwood and Alix Eastman are other top young Gatos swimmers along with juniors Lisa Cristol and Steve Wescott.

The top Gatos qualifier, though, is a senior in her last meet for the Wildcats. Danielle Lux enters the CCS event after an outstanding showing at the league finals last week at Lynbrook.

Lux won an individual title and placed fourth in another event at the finals in the De Anza Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League.

Lux was first in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:08.60 and fourth in the 100 freestyle in 56.27 to lead the Gatos effort at the league meet.

She also teamed with senior Racheal Stratton, Eastman and senior Megan Greenwood for a fourth in the 200 medley relay in 1:58.80, and she joined Eastman, Cristol and Stratton for a fifth in the 400 free relay in 3:53.04.

Eastman was second in the 100 free in 1:57.19, and she was also third in the 500 free in 5:08.60 with Cristol eighth in 5:33.09.

Greenwood was fourth in the 50 free in 26.29. She also got together with junior Lindsay Norcott, senior Carol Humphrey and Cristol for a seventh in the 200 free relay in 1:50.22.

The Los Gatos girls finished the day with 220 points to finish third behind Palo Alto (540) and St. Francis (374) at the finals. Monta Vista was a close fourth at 219.

In boys' competition, Paly won the team title with 539 points. Los Altos (330) was second with Gunn (303) third, Monta Vista (237) fourth, Los Gatos (232) fifth, Lynbrook (226) sixth and Cupertino (110) seventh.

Senior Cameron Simoes and Bannan, one of the freshmen, led the Los Gatos effort at the league meet.

Simoes was second in the 100 breast in 1:02.24, and Bannan was second in the 100 free in 50.49.

The two teamed with seniors Mike Berwald and Justin Greenwood for a fifth in the 200 free relay in 1:33.49, and they joined with Mayer and Greenwood for a fifth in the 200 medley relay in 1:47.81.

Greenwood was fourth in the 100 butterfly in 56.40 and fifth in the 500 free in 5:10.56.

Senior Grant Wernick, junior Taylor Henricks, Mayer and Westcott teamed for a seventh in the 400 free relay in 3:39.53.

In diving action at the league finals, Sheffer was third with Moore fourth in the boys' division, and Alvarado was eighth in the girls' competition.

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