Freshman Jessica Epps won back-to-back events, setting off a 7-event run for Tesoro High School that vaulted the Tesoro girls into the South Coast League title.
On the boys side, Capistrano Valley’s Nick Norman cracked 4:20 in the 500 free, but Dana Hills still took home the team title.
Girls Meet
Tesoro won 9 of the 11 swimming events to roll to a team championship by nearly 200 points. That came courtesy of consecutive event wins from freshman Jessica Epps.
Epps won the 100 fly in dominating fashion, going 55.23 to top the field by a second and a half. Then, just about 10 minutes later, Epps returned to take the 100 free in 50.82.
That set off a huge run for Tesoro, which would ultimately win 7 straight events to close the meet. That run included both of Epps wins, victories in both free relays, plus a 1-2 of the 500 free (courtesy of Mandy Barnes‘ 4:58.12) and wins in the 100 back (Jami Hwang, 56.63) and 100 breast (Emily Baker, 1:06.16).
Tesoro also won the 200 medley relay and got a 200 IM win in 2:04.45 from Dominique Gray.
Capistrano Valley’s Eliana Yellin denied Tesoro yet another win in the 200 free, going 1:52.09 for the win. Meanwhile the 50 free went to San Clemente’s Lauren Amigleo in 23.91.
Team Scores
- Tesoro – 634
- Capistrano Valley – 443
- Trabuco Hills – 316
- San Clemente – 280
- Dana Hills – 243
Boys Meet
Capistrano Valley’s Nick Norman highlighted the boys side, blasting a 4:19.97 to pick up the win in the 500 free.
But Dana Hills took the team trophy, buoyed by an early run that saw them win 3 of the first 5 races.
Trent Pellini won twice for Dana Hills. His first strike came in the 200 IM, where he went 1:51.35 for the win over San Clemente’s Brad Prolo. He would come back to take the 100 breast late in the meet, once again topping Prolo with a 56.23.
Dana Hills also won the 200 free, with Owen Kao going 1:38.59, and the 100 fly, with Michael Smith putting up a 50.07. That swim for Smith was an upset of Tesoro’s Daniel Kim, who broke the League record in prelims with a 49.90, but faded to 50.011 for second in the final.
Dana Hills won the 400 free relay, but San Clemente swept the other two relay races to lock in a runner-up team finish. San Clemente also got wins in the 100 free (Aidan Pastel‘s 46.40) and 100 back (Josh Swart‘s 48.91).
The 50 free went to Rafael Felix out of Capistrano Valley. He went 21.24.
Team Scores
- Dana Hills – 491
- San Clemente – 363
- Tesoro – 357
- Trabuco Hills – 356
- Capistrano Valley – 313
congratulations Jessica. – your leadership is helping take this team new ew heights!
Fun and fast times being posted. Two of the most competitive races to watch were the Ladies 200 free final between El Yellin and Casey Brotherton and the Mens 100 Fly between Michael Smith and Daniel Kim.
Heh, Nick Norman was faster to the feet in the 500 than he was in the 200 individually.