Seniors set tone for CdM

Steve Virgen

When Corona del Mar High girls swim coach Doug Volding thinks of his

seniors, a smile comes to his face. There are eight of them: Brittney

Bowlus, Danielle Carlson, Daniela DiGiacomo, Jessica Harkins,

Christina Hewko, Niki Hendrickson, Kelli Kline and Jackie McCoy. They

have been swimming for Volding and CdM for the past four years and

now, together, they want to reach their goal, which is a Pacific

Coast League championship.

The Sea Kings’ quest for the title began with the PCL

preliminaries Wednesday at CdM. They qualified first in six events

and had 13 advance to the championship finals, which begin Friday at

1 p.m. The CdM seniors set the tone, as they helped Volding make sure

every swimmer was prepared for the league finale.

Bowlus led the Sea Kings, qualifying first in the 50-yard

freestyle (25.06) and first in the 100 free (54.45), as she collected

season-best times in each. Freshman Alexandra Shue also qualified

first in two events, the 200 individual medley (2:16.38) and the 500

free (5:14.51), while sophomore Jordan Anae qualified first in the

100 backstroke with a season-best 1:01.85, and her younger sister,

freshman Tumua Anae, qualified first in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.03).

“They have been important [to CdM] in every way,” Volding said of

his seniors. “With leadership and just who they are, they have been

important. This is truly a group I will miss and not just because of

their athleticism.”

The role for the Sea King seniors has become a bit more important

since PCL rival University is also vying for the title. The Trojans

(3-0-1 in league) can win the championship outright, if they win the

PCL Finals. CdM (2-1-1 in league) and Uni tied, 85-85, in the

regular-season dual meet March 26. The Sea Kings won the 400 free

relay and also finished third in the event to force the tie.

With the way the action is playing out, the PCL title could be

determined by the final event again.

“It’s probably going to come down to the final race,” said

University first-year coach Robin Jacobsen, who swam for CdM under

Volding in the late ‘80s. “[The Trojans] know the seriousness of

winning these finals. I didn’t have to say much. I don’t see it

impossible for us to win league. We just have to do our best.”

The Sea Kings, however, feel the same way.

“If we all do our best, we won’t have any problem,” said CdM

senior Jackie McCoy, who figures to be a key component as she will

compete in the final individual event, the 100 breaststroke. “It’s

kind of nervous, especially since I’m in the last [individual event].

But Mr. V has been preparing us and he has us set up for what we need

to do.”

McCoy qualified fifth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:15.10, yet she is capable of finishing the event in 1:10 and will attempt to do so

Friday.

Junior Kim McKay qualified third in the 200 individual medley

(2:17.69) and third in the 100 butterfly (1:03.57), while freshman

Ashley Chandler (200 free, 2:06.18), junior Vivian Liao (50 free,

25.79) and Jordan Anae (100 free, 55.23) all qualified fourth.

Chandler bettered her previous best by more than a second.

Tumua Anae qualified fifth with a personal record in the 100 free

(56.34) and Hewko also qualified fifth in the 100 back (1:05.83).

Hewko, bound for Stanford on a scholarship for water polo, also

qualified in the 500 free, finishing seventh (5:40.06). As she came

out of the pool senior Ryan Moore was waiting for her with flowers

and he asked her to the prom. She said yes and the two shared a hug.

Harkins (200 free, 2:06.19), Chandler (100 back, 1:06.47) and

McCoy (50 free, 26.45) qualified sixth in their events, while Liao

(100 free, 57.72) and sophomore Ann Winners (100 breaststroke,

1:18.29) qualified seventh for the Sea Kings.

Junior Katya Eadington qualified eighth in the 200 free (2:12.79)

and 100 butterfly (1:08.86), while Hendrickson also qualified eighth

in the 200 IM (2:31.63).

Overall, CdM qualified no less than two swimmers in each event.

Volding said the goal was to advance four to the championship finals

in each event, which happened in the 100 free. However, the Trojans

also qualified four swimmers in that event.