LAHS swim team loses six standouts
By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer
 Roman Beyer/special to the town crier Los Altos High senior and team captain Connor McColl, competing in the breaststroke leg of the 200 individual medley, has qualified for the Central Coast Section meet in six events. |
The swim season has not gone swimmingly for Los Altos High. The boys and girls teams are each competing without three swimmers who were projected to make the Central Coast Section meet.
The three girls are out with injuries and may not swim this season; two of the boys transferred to Palo Alto High and another chose not to come out for the team.
Disappointed but not deterred, new coach Tim Dietrich remains optimistic about the Eagles’ chances of having a successful season.
“We have a lot to overcome, but if they keep their chins high, we can still have a great season,” he said.
Dietrich doesn’t expect either squad to win the SCVAL De Anza Division - considered among the strongest leagues in the CCS - but he does believe each is capable of finishing in the upper half. The boys and girls teams entered this week with identical 1-1 records after beating Saratoga, then falling at home to Gunn.
“We had a chance; the opportunity was there,” Dietrich said of the girls’ meet against Gunn March 22, “but we had key injuries that hurt us.”
Senior Courtney Beyer, sophomore Meghan Powers and freshman Hailey Smith have been sidelined since the season started. Dietrich isn’t sure if or when they will swim for Los Altos in 2005. Beyer, headed to the University of Michigan on a swimming scholarship, placed fourth in the 100-yard butterfly at last year’s CCS meet.
There is one Beyer in the pool for the Eagles, though.
“Her sister has picked up the slack,” Dietrich said of Caitlin Beyer, a sophomore. “She’s swimming really well.”
Caitlin, who placed 14th in the 200 individual medley at the 2004 CCS meet, won the 100 fly at the season-opening Los Altos Invitational. She has already qualified for CCS in that event this year, plus the 200 IM, the 100 backstroke, the 100 freestyle and 200 free.
The Eagles have also received strong efforts from freshmen Carrie Wong (CCS qualifier in the 100 fly, 200 IM and 100 breaststroke) and Rachel Levin (100 breast, 200 IM). The Golovina sisters - sophomore Lyuba and junior Masha - have earned significant points for the team in diving.
Dietrich is hopeful Los Altos can place among the top three teams in the De Anza Division, though that would mean nudging out league favorite Palo Alto or strong contenders Gunn and Monta Vista.
Those are the same schools the Los Altos boys are contending with to reach their goal of a top-three finish, according to Dietrich. Although the Eagles have been hindered by not having three CCS-caliber swimmers they were counting on, they’ve shown strength without numbers.
Team captain Connor McColl leads the way. The senior has already qualified for CCS in six individual events: the 200 free, 200 IM, 100 free, 100 fly, 500 free and 50 free.
“He’s been dominant for sure, but we’ve put him up against the best in dual-meet scenarios to get his race experience down,” Dietrich said. “He hasn’t won them all, but he’s swum good races.”
McColl made the CCS finals in two events last year, placing 12th in the 100 and 200 frees.
Senior Michael Orton will join McColl at CCS this year, having qualified in the 50 free, 100 free and 100 fly.
Orton and McColl also combine forces in the freestyle relays, which Dietrich said “are looking really strong.” Sophomore Ryan Incerpi swims the relays as well; the coach said the fourth spot remains unsettled.
In diving, junior Tim Miller and sophomore Andres Santucci are expected to make CCS.
The Los Altos boys and girls were scheduled to host rival Mountain View Tuesday, after the Town Crier went to press.
