Eastlake High School swim coach Jacquie Cheek (formerly Kimmel) turned in a stellar high school career while competing for the Titans. She held San Diego Section records in the 50-yard freestyle, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay, recording All-American times.
She earned MVP honors each year of her four-year career at EHS.
Now, she’s teaching a new generation of champions.
Top returners on this year’s team include senior Angelika Yngson (breaststroke, individual medley) and juniors Cade Erickson (distance freestyle), Cayden Pangelinan (breaststroke) and Emilio Camarillo (IM, freestyle).
Yngson captured first place touches in the girls 200-yard individual medley (2:15.15) and 100 butterfly (1:10.78) at last year’s Mesa League finals; she repeated as an individual league champion in the 200 IM and butterfly events.
Erickson won gold medals in the 500 freestyle (4:59.64) and 400 freestyle relay while placing second in the 200 freestyle (1:51.78). He successfully defended his league title in the 500 freestyle event.
Pangelinan placed runner-up in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.46) and third in the 200 IM (2:09.53).
Impact newcomers include freshmen Skyler Kinney (butterfly, freestyle), Brenna Pangelinan (sprint freestyle) and Pia Davila (backstroke).
Cheek noted that an influx of new swimmers have added to the depth of the Eastlake team.
“Our goal is to win each dual meet and get a good group of swimmers to CIF,” she explained. “Our strength is in our training. We train hard all season and don’t let up until (league finals).”
The Titans will not have to wait too long to make a collective splash in defending their league titles from last year.
The Mesa League prelims are scheduled Thursday, May 4, at Mater Dei Catholic High School, starting at 3 p.m.
The conference dive finals are scheduled Friday, May 5, at Loma Verde pool, starting at 2 p.m.
League finals are scheduled Saturday, May 6, at Mater Dei Catholic High School. Times are TBA.
