Spartans sweep host Homestead
By Pete Borello, Town Crier Staff Writer
 Joe Hu/Town Crier Los Altos High’s Caitlin Beyer competes in the 100-yard butterfly last week against Monta Visa. |
If there is such a thing as “a good loss” - a phrase coaches could debate for hours - then the Los Altos High girls swim team got one April 6.
Despite being decimated by injuries, the Eagles came close to defeating a Monta Vista team contending for the SCVAL De Anza Division title.
“Monta Vista is much better this year, with something like 15 club swimmers on their girls team …,” Los Altos coach Tim Dietrich said. “So even though we were underdogs, our varsity girls stepped up and kept in stride with Monta Vista, losing by a slim 14 points.”
The 100-86 defeat dropped the host Eagles to 2-2 in the division, while the Matadors improved to 3-1. Los Altos won four events against Monta Vista, which is battling Gunn and Palo Alto for the league championship.
Los Altos’ individual wins came from Julia Lonhart in the 50-yard freestyle (27.30 seconds), Caitlin Beyer in the 100 butterfly (1 minute, 1.48 seconds) and Carey Wong in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.59). The Eagles also claimed the 200 medley relay, as the team of Julia Fish, Wong, Rachel Levin and Lonhart clocked a 2:01.61.
The Los Altos boys, meanwhile, proved no match for Monta Vista, which cruised to a 118-66 win. The result left both teams with the same records as their female counterparts.
“On the boys team, we were just plain outmanned,” Dietrich said. “But I have to give the boys credit, because even though they were not the better team, individually we kept our competitiveness high.”
Three Eagles won events: Connor McColl in the 200 individual medley (2:04.18), Michael Orton in the 50 free (22.89) and Tim Miller in diving (202.20).
Spartans rout Mustangs
Mountain View’s boys and girls dominated host Homestead April 5 in a De Anza Division meet. The Spartan boys won 127-50; the girls prevailed 106-50.
The Mountain View boys were led by Fred Tran, Tyler Landrith and Brian Bishop. Tran won the 200 IM (2.05.89) and 100 fly (55.42); Landrith captured the 200 free (1.51.42) and 500 free (5.03.61); and Bishop claimed the 100 free (49.53) and 100 backstroke (57.49). The trio also combined forces with Justin Kanerva to win the 200 and 400 free relays in times of 1.33.70 and 3.32.42, respectively.
The Spartans also received a first-place finish from Evan McDonald in diving (179.70).
Mountain View coach Ben Murray called his girls’ victory “their most successful meet to date.”
Whitney Campbell and Rebecca Koch led the way with two individual wins each. Campbell claimed the 200 (1.57.12) and 100 frees (53.13), while Koch took top honors in the 50 free (25.52) and 100 back (1.04.97). Campbell and Koch also swam on the Spartans’ winning 200 and 400 free relays.
Emily Bucko added a win in diving (168.45) and Katie Lesyna in the 100 breast (1:13.09).
A day later, both Mountain View teams lost to visiting Gunn to even their records at 2-2 in the division. The boys fell 99-84; the girls lost 103-83.
