Banners fly in Presentation gym

Swimmers cruise to league, CCS championships

By Dick Sparrer

The words of Presentation swimming coach Marisa Watts Cozort now sound almost prophetic. "It's been a long time since we've put up a new banner in our gym," she said early in the spring. "Hopefully this season will give us something to hang up for all to see."

She spoke the words before the Panthers had even hit the water for a league meet. But within just a couple of quick months those words were ringing true.

Presentation has a pair of new banners to hang in its gym, because the Panthers pulled out the league and Central Coast Section championships with resounding victories over Mitty.

Presentation rolled up 311.5 points to finish well ahead of Mitty (255.5) in the race for the title in the section meet at Santa Clara International Swim Center last month. It marked the end of a season-long rivalry between the two private schools.

The Monarchs had beaten the Panthers 107-76 in the regular season to win the dual meet title in the Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, but the Panthers swamped Mitty in the BVAL finals 621-590 to win the league championship.

When it came time for the CCS meet, Presentation dominated Mitty and the rest of the section field.

The performance came as little surprise to Watts Cozort and her assistant coach Heidi Wierzba, both former Presentation swimmers. Watts Cozort is certainly no stranger to CCS competition, having nailed four section titles for the Panthers before going on to win All-American honors at Purdue University.

"The girls knew what they wanted to do right from the beginning," said Watts Cozort of the 2001 season. "They had no doubts, and neither did I."

The Presentation coach was looking for big things from her Panthers after a fourth-place finish at CCS the year before, and her swimmers certainly came through.

Senior Kiana Taheri was second in two events and helped the Panthers to a win in the 200 medley relay to lead the Presentation effort at the section meet.

"She is someone you can always count on," said the coach of the senior speedster.

Taheri was second in the 200 freestyle in 1:52.19 and second in the 100 butterfly in 57.57 to lead the Presentation individual effort. She also teamed with Carlene Takaki, Kayleigh Knight and Jenny Voight for a win in the 200 medley relay in 1:50.21.

K. Taheri also joined with Laura Wheeler, Jenny Wickersham and Melissa Miller for a fourth in the 400 free relay in 3:34.81.

Wickersham, just a freshman, was also impressive at the finals. She was second in the 500 free in 5:00.06 and third in the 200 free in 1:52.83.

"She is just an outstanding freshman," said the coach of Wickersham, who also combined with Voight, Wheeler and Miller for a third in the 200 free relay in 1:39.17.

Voight, a senior, picked up a third in the 200 individual medley in 2:07.10 and a fourth in the 100 fly in 58.37.

"She was another key player," said Watts Cozort. "We could put her in almost anything."

Voight and K. Taheri will be teammates again next year when they swim for Rice University.

Miller, another senior, chipped in with a pair of fourths in the 50 free in 24.77 and the 100 free in 53.77.

Sophomore Nicole Taheri added a fifth in the 500 free in 5:03.41 and a seventh in the 200 free in 1:55.31, Wheeler (a junior) was sixth in the 100 backstroke in 1:00.10 and seventh in the 200 IM in 2:09.24, and Takaki (a sophomore) was eighth in the 100 back in 1:01.26.

The Panthers were 6-1 in the dual meet season, losing only to Mitty. But they more than made up for that loss with their performances at the league finals and CCS meet.

Wickersham won a pair of league titles (200 free and 500 free) and Wheeler (100 back) and Voight (100 fly) were each league champions at the BVAL meet.

The Panthers also cruised to victories in both the 200 medley and 200 free relays.

Of course, the league and CCS championships pleased Watts Cozort. But there were a couple of factors that made them even more special.

First, there's that minor problem swimmers at Presentation face... there is no pool at the school.

"We don't even have a pool," said the Presentation coach, whose squad had to practice at Gunderson every day. "We're the first team without a pool to win CCS."

Then, there's a friendly rivalry Marisa shares with her husband, Chris.

"He's the track and cross country coach at Presentation," she said, "and they won both league championships."

That means two banners for the Presentation gym. And the only way Marisa could match her husband's effort was to win both the league and CCS championship in swimming.

The evidence of her success, and that of her Panthers, now hangs in the Presentation gym.

Around the Glen

Deborah Taylor-Hollis: Mother and son enjoy local stadium's baseball

Outstanding students receive recognition

Darlene Tenes' marketing and public relation's firm Marketing Maniacs recognized as up and coming company

Sports Briefs

Presentation High School swimmers cruise to league, CCS championships

Summer sports camps