Girls swim makes splash by defeating Palos Verdes in South Bay League meet

Preston Thue

Staff Writer

In the Mustangs’ match against the Sea Kings on April 21 at home, the girls swim team kept the team afloat.

Although the Mira Costa swim team is co-ed, it is divided between the boys, who compete only against other boy swimmers, and the girls, who compete only against girl swimmers. The girls swim team crushed Palos Verdes, 126-44, and improved its record to 6-0 overall and 2-0 in Bay League. The boys are 4-2 overall and 1-1 in Bay League.

“We have some really fast lower classmen who have been competing with varsity all year long,” senior captain Annika Gilboy said.

Freshman Alex Crisera, junior Katie Barnhill, sophomore Sophie Kuehler, and freshman Riley Farrell won first in the 200-medley relay, finishing with a time of 2.01.53 minutes. In the relay, Crisera started off the relay  with butterfly; Kuehler swam backstroke; Barnhill  swam breastroke, while Farrell anchored the relay with freestyle. Farrell also got 2.16.21 minutes in the 200 individual race, awarding her the first-place title.

“We swam great today, and it really showed in the score,” Crisera said. “I feel pretty confident that we will do really well at Bay League this year.”

In the girls 200 freestyle, Crisera placed first, coming in at 1.56.42 minutes. Fellow Mustang swimmers junior Lauren Nielsen, at 2.00.68 minutes, and Barnhill, at 2.01.09 minutes, came in behind her at second and third place, respectively

“I was pleased with my time, and it’s fun to sweep the event with other Costa swimmers,” Barnhill said.

Crisera secured another first-place title in the 100 butterfly, and Nielson took second. Crisera finished at 1.01.32 minutes. and Nielson a second later at 1.02.12 minutes. In the 200  relay, senior Yen Nguyen, Nielsen, freshman Grace Barnhill and Farrell finished at 1.46.47 minutes and placed first in the event.

“Our relay teams and all our swimmers swam hard,” junior Emma Nerad said.

The swim team competed yesterday against Redondo Union High School, with the girls winning 122-48, and the boys winning 126-44. 

“I think that our Redondo match will be a really good meet against out rival,” Cooper said prior to the meet.