CdM reloads with quality newcomers

Steve Virgen

Last year the Corona del Mar High girls swim team won the Pacific

Coast League championship and finished second in the CIF Southern

Section Division II finals.

It was the highest finish for the Sea Kings in CIF and the squad

became known as Coach Doug Volding’s best team in his 19 years of

leading the squad. Yet, for all the success that came about, the Sea

Kings are actually better this season.

“With the freshmen we have coming in, headed by [Stephanie] Gabert

combined with all the other girls coming back, I think this is our

strongest team ever,” Volding said.

At Corona del Mar the rich got richer with the entrance of Gabert,

a freshman who qualified for the Olympic trials in the 200-meter

breaststroke in 2:35.94 at the Spring national championships in

Orlando, Fla., Feb. 11.

Gabert along with senior Kim McKay, junior Jordan Anae and

sophomore Lexie Shue lead a formidable lineup which plans to defend

its PCL title.

University should contend once again. But the Sea Kings are set to

be the talk of the town.

“This is going to be an exciting season,” Volding said. “It’s

going to be fun. I’m looking forward to the challenge.

In addition to the aforementioned Corona del Mar quartet, the Sea

Kings also boast more talent.

“I expect great things from sophomore Ashley Chandler; she

continues to get stronger,” Volding said. “Katie Indvik, a freshman,

she’ll be a very good asset. Vivian Liao will be scoring for us.”

Liao, as well as Anae and senior Katya Eadington were a part of

Volding’s first winning relay team in the CIF Millikan Southern

Section Relay finals last year when the Sea Kings won the 6 x 50-yard

freestyle in 2:31.84.

Shue won the 500 free and 200 individual medley at the PCL finals,

where she was also named Co-Swimmer of the Meet along with teammate

Brittney Bowlus, who went on to play water polo at UCLA.

Anae’s younger sister, Tumua, also strengthens Corona del Mar. She

won the 100 breaststroke in the PCL finals. Another sister tandem,

the Catlins, junior Amy and freshman Amanda, should also provide

contributions for the team. Amy Catlin survived leukemia and is on

the comeback trail as she in her final year of remission.

“We’re going to have some depth that we will need,” Volding said.

“We barely edged [University] last year. They have a few new swimmers

who will make them tough. That will be a tough meet. I think we could

have one of the toughest leagues out there. It’s going to be a fun

season.”

The Sea Kings opened their dual-meet season against Back Bay rival

Newport Harbor with a victory last week.