PREP ROUNDUP : El Toro Girls Swim to Third Title in a Row

The El Toro girls’ swim team won its third consecutive Southern Section Relay Championships title Saturday at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

The Chargers, despite missing one of their top sprinters, Robyn Lowes, won in the 400 individual medley in 4 minutes 7.85 seconds.

“Robyn usually anchored our 300 free relay and our medley,” El Toro Coach Sheri Ross said. “The girls wanted to do it for themselves, and they wanted to do it for her.”

Ross said Lowes was “doing a debutante-type thing--being presented to society,” so the team videotaped the championships.

El Toro finished with 212 points. Fountain Valley, which finished second with 188 points, won the 300 free, just ahead of the El Toro, in 2:34.30. The Barons also won the 200 medley relay, in 1:52.80.

“Our girls have worked hard all year,” Fountain Valley Coach Ray Bray said. “This is the first time we’ve been in the top two for relays, ever.”

Mission Viejo did not win any varsity finals, but placed third, with 174 points.

Villa Park did not finish among the top six teams, but won the 200 breaststroke relay in 2:09.86. Jennifer Blasi, Catherine Pharris, Mary Krill and Michelle Morris also swam the 200 backstroke relay, but Morris was overtaken by Walnut’s anchor, Mali Valdez. Walnut, which only competed in three of the seven varsity final events, won the backstroke relay, in 1:54.68.

Long Beach Wilson broke three freshman-sophomore records: the 300 free relay (2:39.11), held by Palm Springs since 1987, the 400 free relay (3:43.84) and the 200 medley relay (1:57.10).

In the championship game of the Cypress softball tournament:

Foothill 3, Cypress 1--Pitcher Leeann Gonzalez, who was named tournament most valuable player, allowed four hits and struck out 11 for Foothill, which upset second-ranked and previously unbeaten host Cypress at Laurel Park.

Catcher Kelley Green earned offensive player of the tournament honors, and had two RBIs in the championship game for Foothill (9-4).

Cypress pitcher Monica Jimenez was named outstanding pitcher of the tournament and Mater Dei catcher Jennifer Cline was named defensive player of the tournament.