Fountain Valley Girls Show Strength

Fountain Valley’s depth and balance was evident Thursday afternoon as the Barons defeated Capistrano Valley and Foothill in a nonleague girls’ swimming meet at Saddleback College.

The Barons, ranked eighth in the county, finished with 181 points. Capistrano Valley was second (167) and Foothill third (145).

“I’m really surprised just how well we did today,” Fountain Valley Coach Patti Glosecki said. “We’re not loaded with club swimmers like some teams. But we do have a good balance of club and non-club swimmers who are all willing to do what it takes to win.”

Glosecki said the meet was a measuring stick for her team.

“Capistrano Valley is a good team, and Foothill has some good swimmers as well,” Glosecki said. “So this win is important to let us know where we are in the season.”

Capistrano Valley was without two of its top sprinters, Ashley and Amber Stachowski.

Ashley, The Times Orange County player of the year in girls’ water polo, and Amber, a second-team all-county water polo player, have been suspended from the team for disciplinary reasons. Capistrano Valley Coach Don Cholodenko declined to comment.

Fountain Valley opened with a victory in the 200-yard medley relay as Brenna Harward, Danielle Laurent, Katy Allen and Stephanie Kumamoto won in 1 minute 58.11 seconds. Kumamoto also won the 50 freestyle (26.51).

Capistrano Valley came from behind to win the last event of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay. Catherine McCalley, swimming the third leg, caught up with Lauren Maracek to take the lead. Niki Gove held on to finish in 3:55.45.

In the boys’ meet, fourth-ranked Capistrano Valley had little trouble winning with 192 points. No. 6 Fountain Valley was second (141) and Foothill third (104).

Capistrano Valley freshman Andrew Burbach, a recent transfer from Bellingham, Wash., won the 500 freestyle in 4:49.85, the third fastest high school time in the county this season.