PREP SWIMMING ROUNDUP : El Toro Gets Double Victory Over Mission Viejo

It was apparent from the first race that there would be no blowout at this swim meet.

In fact, for the girls’ and boys’ teams, the winner of the South Coast League meet between El Toro and Mission Viejo at El Toro Thursday was determined by the last event--the 400 freestyle relay.

“Our girls swam to the occasion. They have great heart,” El Toro girls’ Coach Sheri Ross said after the relay team of Alice Park, Christine Kennedy, Lindsey Rock and Katie Lowes finished first in 3 minutes 39.02 seconds and won the meet, 85-84.

With both teams losing their top swimmers, Katie Simmons of El Toro and Cheryl Murphy of Mission Viejo, to the U.S. Nationals this week in Washington state, both coaches were hesitant about making predictions.

And although El Toro (6-0, 1-0) took a slight lead early and held on to it throughout most of the meet, it was the 100 breaststroke that turned the things upside down, with Mission Viejo’s Carrie Gamel and Carrie Williams taking first and second, giving the Diablos a one-point lead.

“We almost got them,” Mission Viejo Coach Mike Pelton said. “But I really had expected this meet to be a close one. After all, we have two of the county’s best swim teams competing.”

It was a similar situation for the boys’ meet, which El Toro won, 88-81.

The Chargers held a one-point lead over Mission Viejo before the 400 freestyle relay.

“I knew that whether we won this meet or not depended on me,” El Toro senior Ian Pyka said.

Pyka anchored the relay, swimming his leg in 46.95 for the victory.

“Nobody thought it would be an easy meet,” he said. “And before (the meet) started, I really didn’t know if we could win it.”

Pyka, Terry Dougherty and Jay Reaves were key figures for the Chargers (5-1, 1-0). All were double winners. Pyka won the 50 freestyle (22.07) and the 100 butterfly (54.47). Dougherty took the 200 individual medley (2:00.28) and the 500 freestyle in a personal-best time of 4:51.29, and Reaves won the 200 freestyle (1:47.87) and the 100 breaststroke (1:00.36).

“This was a fun meet,” El Toro boys’ Coach Jeff Grosse said. “But I know we’ll be at it again in league finals.”

In nonleague boys’ swimming:

Trabuco Hills 93, Edison 77--Cory Tague won the 200 freestyle (1:52.52) and 100 backstroke (55.49) for host Edison (3-2).

In nonleague girls’ swimming:

Edison 121, Trabuco Hills 50--Mona Khamis won the 50 freestyle (27.32) and 100 backstroke (1:06.92) to lead host Edison (4-1).