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

Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now

Read more Mira Costa boys volleyball overwhelms Huntington Beach in Division 1 semifinals

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. “But I think the guys and the girls know that next week … (we’re) aiming to see what we can do at state.”

#AndStill @SMCHSswim rules the pool again, and watch out for Santa Margarita at state! @OCVswimdive @SMCHSEagles pic.twitter.com/9OmoX52MNP

— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) May 9, 2026

Santa Margarita’s boys won the 200-yard medley (1 minute, 30.45 seconds) and 200 free (1:21.64) 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 (1:33.98) and finished with 383.5 points to outdistance runner-up Woodbridge at 209.

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

“To see where the girls have come from, unbelievable,” Ron Blanc said.

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

Their recipe for success, however, remained depth. Santa Margarita didn’t crown an individual champion for the boys or girls.

Santa Margarita’s boys medley relay featured Sam Zhou, Taylor Thongintra and Darren Nguyen before reaching Korner. The sprint relay consisted of Carson Eich, Adam Cuthbert and Tyler Lee in the progression to Korner, a senior committed to Xavier.

The Eagles showcased their youth in the girls 200 free relay. The team of senior Angela Lim, sophomore Daniela Scott, junior Eileen Song and sophomore Valentina Delgado delivered Santa Margarita its 10th straight title in the event.

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

“Tying for first, it’s just amazing,” Ohl said. “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.

Read more Orange Lutheran boys volleyball tops St. Margaret’s in Division 2 semifinals

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 victory in 2:58.81, the third-fastest time in county history. The USC-committed senior split a sizzling 43.09 to anchor a relay that included Michael Wang (44.42), Liam von Schonfeldt (45.99) and Max Chen (45.31).

“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-touch 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, who is committed to Cal. “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. She joined O’Dell and Nwaizu.

“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 a county-leading 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.

Ton led off the 400 free relay with a 49.14, which would have easily won the 100.

Fountain Valley senior Peter Vu touched first in the 200 individual medley (county-leading 1:48.60) for his first section title.

Woodbridge girls edged San Clemente 209-205 for second, the Warriors’ best finish since their runner-up trophy in 2016.

“That was the most exciting meet I’ve been to in a long time,” Woodbridge coach James Hickson of the duel for second place.

Santa Monica sophomore Gabriella Brito won the 50 free in a lifetime-best 21.66 and lowering her Division 1 record in the butterfly to an eye-popping 50.74. Both times also established pool records.

Read more Sunny Hills boys volleyball finishes strong to beat Crossroads in semifinals