Boys swimming: All CdM at PCL prelims

Joseph Boo

CORONA DEL MAR - Corona del Mar High’s boys swim team proved that

it could roll out of bed, forget to shave and still dominate the Pacific

Coast League.

At Tuesday’s PCL prelims, 26 of 29 unshaven scruffy Sea Kings moved into

one of the 64 individual slots for Friday’s PCL championship finals.

“Everybody did what they were supposed to do,” CdM Coach Jon Moore said.

Most of the Sea Kings, who went undefeated during the PCL dual meet

season and carries a No. 6 ranking in Orange County, didn’t bother to

undergo the ritual pre-swim body shave. But that didn’t stop CdM from

putting up impressive numbers.

The most impressive of the lot belonged to sophomore Sherwin Kim. He

posted the league’s first CIF automatic time this year, in the 200-yard

individual medley with a 2:03.85. That is well under the automatic

qualifying time of 2:05.00 and almost three seconds better than his old

personal record.

Kim also had the fastest time in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:05.74,

almost two seconds better than his previous mark. Despite the two PRs,

Moore said Kim can do even better.

“Sherwin was one of the guys who didn’t shave,” he said. “He’ll shave on

Friday, and he can improve on his times.”

Garrett Gentry and Garrett Bowlus added two CIF consideration times for

CdM. Gentry shattered his PR in the 100 backstroke with a 58.03, good for

the top qualifying time. Bowlus posted the third best time in the 50

freestyle with a 23.15. Gentry was also third in the 100 free with a PR

of 50.68, and Bowlus was fourth in the same event with a PR of 51.16.

Bowlus’ teammate, Morgan Johnston, missed a CIF automatic time by .15

seconds. His time of 22.65 nevertheless gave him the top seed in the 50

free. Costa Mesa senior Alex Sarris was a close second with a 23.02.

The Mustangs got the most of their two varsity swimmers. Sarris had

another second place in the 100 free with a 50.42, just behind top seed

John Graass of CdM (50.10). Sarris’ teammate, junior Mike Whitman, also

had two No. 2 seeds for the championship finals. He finished the 200 IM

with a PR of 2:06.92, and his previous best in the 100 breaststroke was

obliterated with a 1:05.81.

Estancia senior David Collier qualified for two championship finals with

PRs in both races. He was fifth in the 200 free (1:57.96) and sixth in

the 500 free with a 5:21.90, over 10 minutes better than his old PR.

But anyone in the PCL will be hard pressed to match the Sea Kings on

Friday. CdM sophomore Matt Meyer set a PR in the 500 free by over 14

minutes with a 5:07.86, which makes him the top seed. Sophomore Marcello

Pantuliano is the second seed in the 500 free with a 5:11.27, another PR.

CdM senior Omar Kattan also had two PRs, in the 200 IM (2:07.70, third

seed) and the 100 butterfly (57.70, fourth seed). Senior David Fabian

swam his best in the 100 butterfly with a 56.76 for the top seed. He also

had a PR in the 50 free (23.71).

Other CdM championship final qualifiers include junior Chriss Street, who

was second in the 100 butterfly (56.98) and third in the 100 backstroke

(1:02.44). CdM’s Chase Emery was fourth in the 200 free (1:56.22), and

freshman Ryan Moore had two No. 7 seeds, in the 200 free (1:59.02) and

the 500 free (5:22.47).

Freshman Bobby Messenger had a PR in the 100 butterfly, (59.50, seventh

seed) and senior Chris McCormick was sixth in the 100 backstroke

(1:04.73).