SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Swimming

Mariners swim to 4th consecutive South Bay League dual title

By Phillip Brents

CHULA VISTA, April 15, 2004 -- Mar Vista High girls swim coach Sue Czerwiec continues to be amazed by her team, especially this year’s edition that had to contend with the loss of 13 seniors to graduation.

“Our team is definitely an inspiring team. They are extremely committed not only to Mar Vista High School but to the sport of swimming,” said Czerwiec, whose team wrapped up its fourth consecutive South Bay League dual meet title with a 99-87 victory April 15 at the Loma Verde pool in Chula Vista.

The Mariners swam to the championship behind double individual event winners Jennifer Parra (200-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle) and Meredith Moses (200-yard individual and 100-yard backstroke), both returning CIF qualifiers. The winners also received key victories by Kim Forrest (diving) and Vivid Love (500-yard freestyle).
Forrest is believed to have set an unofficial school record for six-card girls diving with 193.95 points.

Love and teammate Vanessa Valadez’ dramatic come-from-behind one-two finish in the 500 freestyle helped separate the teams down the stretch in point-scoring.

“Hilltop has a strong team this year. I’m very impressed with their swimmers, how they swam and their unity. They gave us a good run for their money,” Czerwiec said.

But the Mar Vista coach had to reserve her praise for her own squad.

“I was impressed with (our) swimmers and how they managed to hang tough in a meet as tough a meet as this was. Considering we lost 13 seniors, I’m pretty impressed by that,” Czerwiec said.

The Mar Vista boys team also wrapped up its fourth consecutive league title by defeating Hilltop by a 121-68 score as the Mariners took first-place finishes in 10 of the 12 events.

Juniors Scott Knox (50 and 100 freestyle) and Julian Czerwiec (200 freestyle and 100 backstroke) and sophomore Don Sales (200 IM and 100 butterfly) led the way for Mar Vista with two individual event wins apiece. Shan Stenval also recorded an individual event victory for the Mariners, who swept all three relay events.

MV boys coach Chad Kavanaugh said hard work and dedication helped fuel the team’s win.

“We worked out hard the second week of Easter Break. The guys were committed. We swam a lot of yards. We worked on our endurance and speed, especially all the new kids who have stepped up this year. Everybody got their best times this year,” MV boys coach Chad Kavanaugh said.

For Hilltop, Jessica Street doubled in winning the girls 50 free and 100 breaststroke while Kyle Kovar emerged with individual wins in boys diving and the 100 breaststroke. Briana Sneddon captured the girls 100 butterfly for the Lancers, whose record dropped to 4-2 overall.