Santa Margarita boys, girls sweep CIF-SS Division 1 swimming titles again

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WALNUT — At the top of the team scoring projections and the timing board, the CIF Southern Section Division 1 swimming championships looked familiar at several spots on Saturday. But not everything went as expected at Mt. SAC.

While Santa Margarita’s boys and girls dominated the team competitions to extend their title streaks, a few Orange County racers shook up the meet.

Newport Harbor’s Connor Ohl and JSerra’s Nolan Baker tied for first place in the boys 100-yard freestyle for a rare finish. Woodbridge’s Isabella Parker knocked off the two-time defending champion in the girls 100 freestyle. And Corona del Mar’s Sofia Szymanowski joined the sub-minute club in the girls breaststroke.

Ohl also broke the vaunted 20-second barrier to win the 50 freestyle.

If that wasn’t enough action in the sprints, Santa Margarita’s boys emerged victorious after a confusing finish in the 200 free relay.

“Just exciting,” Szymanowski said of the meet. “So much happened.”

When the water finally calmed, Santa Margarita again held its traditional pool party.

The Eagles’ girls won a section-record 12th consecutive Division 1 title while the boys claimed their sixth straight Division 1 crown.

Santa Margarita’s girls surpassed Mission Viejo’s run of 11 consecutive titles from 1976-1986 in girls swimming.

The boys and girls teams jumped into the pool together to celebrate.

“It never gets old,” said soaked Santa Margarita co-coach Ron Blanc.

Santa Margarita’s boys won the 200-yard medley and 200 free relays to score a Division 1-record 421 points to outdistance runner-up Northwood at 236. Bennett Korner anchored both winning relays.

The Eagles’ girls also captured the 200 free relay and finished with 383.5 points to outdistance Woodbridge at 209.

Santa Margarita’s girls impressed after graduating 12 seniors last year, including standout Teagan O’Dell.

Before the meet, the Eagles’ boys and girls donned new hockey-style jerseys during their joint cheer.

Ohl and Baker both touched in 44.32 seconds to share the title in 100 free. The seniors then shared a handshake.

“Amazing,” Ohl said with a smile. “Props to Nolan. He’s a great swimmer. He’s been pushing me for the last two years. He beat me in the 100 last year. It’s just great that we can compete like that. … That’s what I live for.”

“I was giving him a handshake because I was like, ‘Please no swim-off for first,” he added with a laugh.

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Ohl won the 50 free in 19.96. He missed the Division 1 record by one one-hundredth of a second but crashed the 20-second barrier for the third time in his high school career.

Ohl brought his speed from water polo to swimming.

“(At) Newport (Harbor water polo), we’re swimming just as much as an average swim team,” he said. “This year, we’ve been really into more stroke work. We’ve been using paddles, fins, all the utilities to get faster.”

Santa Margarita’s boys edged Northwood by one one-hundredth of a second to win a dramatic 200 free relay.

The Eagles clocked a 1:21.64 but Northwood anchor Andrew Maksymowski unleashed several splashes as if his team won.

Newport Harbor contended but was disqualified for an early take off, Sailors coach Kevin Potter confirmed.

Maksymowski returned in the 400 free relay to lead Timberwolves to the win in 2:58.81, the third-fastest time in county history. The USC-committed senior split a sizzling 43.09.

“That’s why that (400) was so important to me,” Maksymowski said referring to the close call in the 200 free relay. “I had to get my payback.”

Parker won the 100 free in a lifetime-best 49.75 to out-touched two-time defending Division 1 champion Ava DeAnda of Riverside Poly by about a tenth of a second.

“She’s insane competition,” Parker, a junior, said of DeAnda. “She’s super quick so going into it, I just wanted to keep up.”

Szymanowski touched first in the 100 breaststroke in a lifetime-best 59.51. The junior, who is committed to Michigan, challenged the Orange County record set by Calvary Chapel’s Bianca Nwaizu (59.44) on Friday in the Division 2 finals.

Szymanowski became only the third O.C. girl to break a minute.

“I wasn’t even expecting to drop,” Szymanowski said. “I was just having fun. I think the confidence brought itself in the race.”

Corona del Mar junior Ethan Lim won the boys breaststroke in 54.85 to give the Sea Kings the sweep of the event.

Maksymowski and Fountain Valley’s Alyssa Ton defended their titles in the 200 and 500 freestyles. Ton clocked county-leading times of 1:45.15 and 4:44.26 while Maksymowski took his races in county-leading 1:34.70 and 4:22.85.

Fountain Valley’s Peter Vu touched first in the 200 individual medley (1:48.60) for his first section title.

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