Irvine’s Beard Once Again Makes Her Presence Felt

Since her freshman year at Irvine, Amanda Beard has been a force to reckon with in high school swimming.

Not since Janet Evans has there been a county swimmer who has garnered so much attention. And like Evans, Beard’s ability, demeanor and sportsmanship have been in a class by themselves.

Her accomplishments outside interscholastic swimming are well-known: a gold and two silver medals at the 1996 Olympics, an American record in the 100-meter breaststroke and California and age-group records in the last four years, to name a few.

Beard, The Times Orange County girls’ Swimmer of the Year, was coming off a lukewarm junior year that included a loss to Marina’s Jamie Cail in the 200 individual medley at the 1998 Division I championships. But Beard came back with a vengeance, ending her senior season with a bang.

Winning her fourth consecutive individual title in the 100-yard breaststroke (1 minute 02.77 seconds) at the Southern Section Division I finals last month in Belmont, Beard was also named the swimmer of the meet for a third time.

But Beard wasn’t limited to one stroke. She won section titles in the 100 IM (1996), 100 freestyle (1997) and the 100 butterfly last month. Her time in the fly was the fastest in the county at 55.82.

Besides the individual events, the Arizona-bound Beard was crucial to Irvine winning its third consecutive Division I title. Along with her victories in the 100 breaststroke and 100 fly, Beard’s breaststroke leg in the 200 medley relay was the difference in the Vaqueros winning the event.

It’s not common for swimmers to be adept at butterfly and breaststroke. But Beard had excelled in the butterfly to become one of the nation’s best in that stroke.

At spring nationals last April, Beard placed fourth in the 100-meter butterfly.

“I think it speaks a lot for how versatile Amanda is,” Irvine Coach Scott Hinman said. “Arizona is very lucky to get her.”

Dave Salo, who has been Beard’s club coach since she was 13, said her future is exciting.

“When she was 11 and 12 years old, she was told what to do. Now, as an adult, Amanda is swimming because she’s happy and enthusiastic about her sport,” Salo said.

Salo said after a swimmer competes in the Olympics, it’s pretty hard to get motivated about racing again. After the Atlanta Games, it was apparent Beard was going through withdrawal. But in the last year, she has managed to get through the funk. “She shot a warning shot across the bows at [spring] nationals,” Salo said. “I’m sure she’ll have a very successful college career at Arizona. And who knows about the fly? If she can get below a minute, she could have a shot of making the Olympic team.”

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GIRLS’ SWIMMING

50 freestyle: Sarah Jones, San Clemente, So.

Time: 23.82. Came on strong at end of season, breaking 24-second barrier at section finals.

100 freestyle: Jessica Hayes, University, So.

Time: 50.63. A member of the U.S. National junior team, she just missed a Division II record.

200 freestyle: Jessica Hayes, University. So.

Time: 1:48.26. Versatile in all strokes, Hayes was also close to a record at section finals.

500 freestyle: Kaitlin Sandeno, El Toro, So.

Time: 4:43.99. Dominated this event and should dominate the next two years.

100 backstroke: Kyoko Yokouchi, Marina, Jr.

Time: 56.19. Her strongest stroke, Yokouchi was Marina’s top performer during the season.

100 breaststroke: Amanda Beard, Irvine, Sr.

Time: 1:02.77. She won her fourth consecutive breaststroke title at Division I finals.

100 butterfly: Amanda Beard, Irvine, Sr.

Time: 55.82. She missed the Division I record by a half-second.

200 indiv. medley: Kaitlin Sandeno, El Toro, So.

Time: 2:00.19. Set Division I record in the event, breaking Jennifer Parmenter’s 1997 mark.

200 freestyle relay: San Clemente

Time: 1:37.47. Kristen Caverly (Fr.), Sarah Jones (So.), Stephanie Chambers (So.) and Ari Gardner (Sr.). When they were together, no team beat them in the freestyle relays.

400 freestyle relay: San Clemente

Time: 3:28.46. Kristen Caverly (Fr.), Sarah Jones (So.), Stephanie Chambers (So.) and Ari Gardner (Sr.). Capped the evening at Belmont Plaza Pool with a Division I record.

200 medley relay: Irvine

Time: 1:48.17. Danielle Taylor (Fr.), Morgan Hoesterey (Sr.), Amanda Beard (Sr.) and Heidi Kraus (Sr.). The Vaqueros owned this event with this lineup.

SECOND TEAM

Diving: Erica Sorgi, Capistrano Valley, Jr.

Score: 566.85. Won her second Division I title after taking her sophomore year off.

50 freestyle: Stephanie Hsiao, Irvine, Jr.

Time: 24.19. Finished third at Division I finals.

100 freestyle: Stephanie Hsiao, Irvine, Jr.

Time: 51.41. Won the Division I title at Belmont Plaza Pool.

200 freestyle: Erin Zehnter, Irvine, Sr.

Time: 1:50.23. Underrated throughout the year, Zehnter took first at Division I finals.

500 freestyle: Jamie Cail, Marina, Sr.

Time: 4:49.60. Struggled this year, but came back to take second at Division I finals.

100 backstroke: Shauna Barnard, Laguna Hills, Jr.

Time: 56.21. A key player in Laguna Hills fourth consecutive title.

100 breaststroke: Kristen Caverly, San Clemente, Fr.

Time: 1:04.84. Caverly is poised to take over the breaststroke with Beard’s departure.

100 butterfly: Lindsey Buck, Laguna Hills, So.

Time: 56.35. Swam the second fastest time in the county and won the Division II title.

200 indiv. medley: Kristen Caverly, San Clemente, Fr.

Time: 2:03.40. Always an exciting swimmer to watch, she was a key to the Tritons’ success.

200 freestyle relay: Irvine

Time: 1:38.40. Heidi Kraus (Sr.), Sara Natalizio (Fr.), Stephanie Hsiao (Jr.) and Erin Zehnter (Sr.). Was always in the top three throughout the season.

400 freestyle relay: Irvine

Time: 3:30.03. Erin Zehnter (Sr.), Romina Mosquera (Sr.), Stephanie Hsiao (Jr.) and Amanda Beard (Sr.). Could not match San Clemente, but finished second at Division I finals.

200 medley relay: Laguna Hills

Time: 1:49.58. Shauna Barnard (Jr.), Katina Economides (Jr.), Lindsey Buck (So.) and Morgan Class (Sr.). Broke a 19-year-old record to win the title in Division II.

Diving: Takako Nabeshema, Cypress, Jr.

Score: 459.65. Was the runner-up in Division II finals

Coach of the Year: Susan Lord, Laguna Hills