Girls swim: Sailors ready to make their move

Steve Virgen

IRVINE - Times have certainly changed for the Newport Harbor High

girls swim program. Sailors Coach Ken LaMont, who is in his third year,

says Newport no longer solely depends on its water polo standouts during

the swim season. These are the days when club swimmers prove vital to

have a chance for a high school league title.

Tars’ sophomore Nicole Mackey, one of three swimmers who have brought

new life to the school’s program, displayed the essence of Newport

Harbor’s development. She broke the Sea View League record in the

100-yard backstroke (57.30), nearly surpassing the former record (58.23)

by a second in the league’s preliminaries at Heritage Park Wednesday. She

also qualified first in the 100 butterfly (57.13), completing

CIF-automatic times in both events.

Mackey’s teammates junior Carly Geehr (qualified 1st in the 200

individual medley) and sophomore Hayley Peirsol (first in the 500 free)

provided the 1-2 punch in the 200 free as Geehr touched the wall first.

Both also swam to CIF-automatic times in their respective events.

For Newport senior Jennifer Arrow, the success of the three swimmers

has made her final year even more enjoyable. She has witnessed with

delight the improvement of the Sailors and she sighed when she started to

reminisce.

“Everyone is more excited about being able to swim now,” said Arrow,

who credited the addition of the club swimmers. She qualified fourth in

the 100 breaststroke (1:09.91), good for CIF, and eighth in the 200 IM

(2:25.94), garnering CIF consideration.

As a sophomore, Arrow accidentally broke her right ankle four weeks

before the CIF Southern Section prelims. She says that’s when she noticed

the extreme team support, which also helped her rehabilitate quicker.

Newport’s team unity has become a strong asset in the development as

well.

The Sailors strengthened relationships while at the Palm Springs

Invitational, Friday and Saturday, where they finished second. Also,

Tusday night, teammates formed a team dinner, which LaMont said was a

first since he’s been there.

The results may not bring a Sea View title this year, but LaMont

believes the noticeable improvement will attract more of the school’s

students to join the team.

Said LaMont, “ We’ve gotten to the point where this is a place where

the girls want to be at ... that’s what makes us so attractive.”

Helping the cause were senior Erin Ball (100 free) and sophomores Mai

Tajima (200 free and 100 back), Peggy Beebe (500 free), Jenna Murphy (50

free) and Ashley Parole (100 free). They finished in the top eight in

their respective events, qualifying for Friday’s finals.

LaMont said Tajima, who qualified fifth in both events, is one to

watch for.

“She started out last season (on junior varsity),” he said. “And now

she’s one of our top swimmers.”

Ball, who will play water polo next year at the University of

Michigan, was also quick to credit the club swimmers for the team’s

recent rise.

Said Ball, “They make us feel that we’re on the same level with the

other high schools with the club swimmers.”

Ball (100 back) and her sister, Jessica (50 and 100 free), along with

Amber Braly (100 fly and 500 free), Hillary Karges (100 and 200 free),

Paige Lansing (100 fly), Murphy (100 back), Parole (50 free), Nicole

Probert (100 breast) and Annie Wight (50 free and 100 breast) finished in

the top 16, advancing to Friday’s consolation finals.