The Eastlake High School swim team is thriving, not merely surviving among giants, judging by the outcome of Saturday’s San Diego Section championship meet at Coronado High School. The Titans came away from the North County-dominated Division I finals with one event champion, two second-place individual finishes and one second-place relay finish to post a fourth-place team finish.
It was the fifth consecutive top four team finish for Eastlake at the CIF finals and matched last year’s fourth-place showing with superstars Jacquie Kimmel and Taylor Stoddard (now swimming in college) in the lineup.
Despite the high profile losses to graduation, the Titans still managed to pack a punch in 2010. Senior Andrea Voigt timed 1:51.38 to win the girls 200-yard freestyle, an event in which she placed third last year. Voigt also placed second in this year’s 100 freestyle finals (51.91), trailing La Costa Canyon’s Mikkel-Ane Stipe( 51.48 automatic All-American time).Voigt finished second in the 100 freestyle last year as well.
EHS teammate Justine Maher touched second in the 50 freestyle in 24.19 and also placed sixth in the 100 butterfly (58.73). Maher placed runner-up to Stipe in the 50 freestyle after Stipe broke Kimmel’s section record of 23.68 set last year with another automatic All-American clocking (23.63).
Maher was fifth in the 50 freestyle and sixth in the 100 butterfly at last year’s CIF finals.
The Titans finished second in the girls 200 freestyle relay (1:40.16) and fourth in the girls 400 freestyle relay (3:37.36) after winning both events last year.
“I really didn’t know how we would finish,” EHS coach Bryan Monzon said. “I thought with all the great swimmers in San Diego, it would be difficult to crack the top five. We had some outstanding swims from all our girls individual swimmers — Andrea, Justine, Simone (Banks) and Aabra (Ahmed) as well as some additional great relay splits from Josselyn Molina, Jessica Moreno and Kerry Lindsay. I am thrilled Eastlake has again continued to perform at CIF.”
Monzon said Voigt’s 200 freestyle win showcased yet another example of her competitive spirit.
“She was slightly behind (Carlsbad’s) Monica Dornick for the first two 50s,” the EHS coach said. “I could see that Andrea was hanging tough and when she turned to start the third 50 she was in striking distance. All four years I have preached to her that the third 50 is where she needs make her move — wait any longer and it will be too late. Turning for the final 50, Andrea had pulled into the lead and I knew there was no way she wouldn’t win. It was a memorable race and fun for everyone to watch.”
In the Division I boys finals, Otay Ranch junior Mike Kowalski powered to runner-up finishes in both the 50 freestyle (21.45) and 100 butterfly (52.27) while Mustang teammate Juan Robles notched a noteworthy second-place finish in the 100 backstroke (55.17). Eastlake senior Jason DeMoss placed sixth in the 500 freestyle (4:55.21).
Kowalski finished third in last year’s butterfly finals, fifth in the sprint freestyle.
“Mike shows us what hard work and dedication can accomplish,” ORHS coach Ernie Medina said. “He’s our leader in the pool.”
Robles was third in the the IM at last year’s Division I finals.
DeMoss is the two-time defending Mesa League champion in the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.
As a team, neither Otay Ranch nor Eastlake managed to crack the top 10 finishers.
Carlsbad topped Fallbrook to win the Division I boys meet while Torrey Pines bettered La Costa Canyon to win the Division I girls title.
Mt. Carmel (boys) and Cathedral Catholic (girls) swam to Division II team championships.
Voigt and Kowalski earned honors as this year’s Mesa League swimmers of the year. Voigt won four gold medals at this year’s league finals while Kowalski stepped out of the pool with three.
