After local swimmers shined at the Foothill League swim finals in early May, the Foothill League was well represented as the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section swim finals featured school records being broken and champions named.
The Saugus Centurions had a big day as senior Logan Divine ended the day as a CIF individual champion in the 100-yard butterfly in Division 3.
“Logan had a spectacular end-of-season run. He broke his school record in the 100-yard butterfly several times,” Saugus swim coach Jim Klipfel said. “His CIF win in that race was a thrill to watch. Years of effort paid off for an amazing young man.”
Divine, who’s committed to Washington & Lee University, ends his high school career as a champion at CIF and will have the opportunity to swim in the state prelims on Friday.
In the 200-yard freestyle, Divine finished as the runner-up to Oak Park’s Pablo Ingrum and carries lots of momentum into the state’s prelims.
As for the rest of Saugus, the boys’ team ended the 4×100-yard freestyle relay race in eighth place.
For West Ranch, the Wildcats entered the CIF swim finals with lots of momentum after a Foothill League winning season.
The biggest win for the Wildcats came in the Division 1 girls’ 4×50-yard medley relay, a victory that surprised both the team and West Ranch swim coach Kearsten Livingstone.
“This was an incredibly exciting race. I think both the girls and I were a little shocked to come away with the win,” Livingstone said. “It was one of the most exciting moments of my high school coaching career so far and truly showcased just how talented and determined our varsity girls’ team is.”
The Wildcats edged Santa Margarita for the win in the relay as West Ranch took the crown by two-tenths of a second.
As a team, the Wildcats finished fourth overall in the Division 1 girls’ championship with sophomore Emma Hussein shining in individual competition.
In the girls’ 200-yard individual medley, Hussein defeated Santa Margarita’s Haylee Pramono by four seconds with a total time of 1:57.23 and secured the CIF individual championship.
“This swim was beautiful from start to finish, with her dominant breaststroke leg truly setting her apart from the field,” Livingstone said. “To win by four seconds at the Division 1 CIF level is an incredible statement and speaks to just how special of an athlete she is.”
In the end, Hussein broke two school records in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke while the girls’ 200-yard medley relay also shattered the school record.
As a program, the boys’ side ended the day with an eighth-place overall finish at the competition with Jace Lloyd and Gabe Eke clinching their spot in state competition.
Brendan Keating and Elzat Parhat will join the Wildcats in representing West Ranch in the relay competition in the state prelims.
“Overall, West Ranch had our best showing to date at a CIF finals meet,” Livingstone said. “What makes this accomplishment even more exciting is that this team is led by an incredibly talented group of underclassmen who continue to rise to the occasion.”
The Golden Valley Grizzlies had Dieter Ignacio medal after the sophomore ended the boys’ 100-yard butterfly in second place in Division 4.
The medal comes after Ignacio became the new Foothill League champion in the 100-yard breaststroke after defeating Hart’s Nolan Yokoyama by a tenth of a second.
“Dieter is the type of kid who likes to push himself and that means he likes a challenge, knowing the fly and breast were going to be tough competition against his club friends from Saugus and Hart,” Golden Valley coach Melissa Simmons said. “Dieter put in a great effort and swam two strong races, earning him second place in both. While he didn’t quite get his personal bests as he did at league, he came away with even more experience and motivation for the next year.”
As for the rest of Golden Valley, Chloe Cortez set a new personal record in the girls’ 100-yard backstroke with a 13th–place finish. Chloe Cho earned two personal bests in the 50 free and 100 backstroke and ended ninth overall in the 100 backstroke.
The Valencia Vikings had a CIF individual champion in Tori Yamamura in the girls’ 100 backstroke in Division 1.
Yamamura, who’s committed to the University of Missouri, swam a total time of 55 seconds in the 100 backstroke and placed second in the girls’ 100 butterfly.
Yamamura heads off to state with lots of momentum and will be joined by Aubrey Martin, who will compete in the 50 free and 100 free.
Valencia relay swimmers Jeanna Cerera and Valeria Iglesias will join Yamamura and Martin at the state prelims.
For the Canyon High School swim program, senior Blake Van Vooren medaled in the Division 3 championships for boys’ 200-yard freestyle with a total time of 1:40.90 with a third-place finish. And in the boys’ 100-yard freestyle, Van Vooren medaled with a third-place result in the boys’ 100-yard freestyle with a time of 46.60.
The CIF state swimming and diving championships begins with the prelims on Friday at 1 p.m. at the Clovis Olympic swim complex at Clovis West High School with the finals scheduled for Saturday.
