Century Pools Its Resources to Compete
Home meets have to be held on the road because there is no pool on campus, and when the season began, half the team’s swimmers “sank like a rock,” their coach said.
With so many high-profile athletes working their high school seasons around their personal training regimens, swimming for Century High recalls the days when competing for a high school team really meant something.
“It makes me feel good to swim for my school,” said Julio Sandoval, a senior who has wrestled for the Centurions but had no previous competitive swimming experience. “It’s about showing some school spirit.”
About half of Century’s team, which numbers fewer than 20, joined so they could learn to swim, said Coach Darrin Cox, in his first season as head coach after two years as assistant.
“Our kids come to us with no experience,” Cox said. “They rarely have the opportunity to join summer swimming programs, unless it’s a free swim at a city pool.”
Century Athletic Director Jeff Watts says that without a pool on campus, building a respectable program of between 50-100 swimmers is tough. He is awaiting city approval to use a nearby park’s pool for practices. For now, the team is bused to Santa Ana High for late-afternoon workouts.
Cox, a former high school swimmer, says it hasn’t been easy recruiting kids for the swim team, but the obstacles haven’t dulled the team spirit of those who participate.
“I love these kids,” Cox said. “We go to these meets and maybe the highest place we take is third, but the kid who does it is so proud of himself.”
Senior Frank Lopez, a 260-pound tackle for Century’s football team, said he was looking for a new challenge when he joined the swim squad. He competes in the backstroke and several relays.
“It’s a challenging sport. It works you out good,” said Lopez, who says he has lost 13 pounds since the start of the season. “It’s lots of fun. Your team cheers for you and it helps you a lot in building teamwork.”
The Centurions enter the Century League prelims on Wednesday as decided underdogs. Nevertheless, Sandoval, who couldn’t even tread water when he first jumped into the pool, is looking forward to the experience.
“I just want to make it to the end of the pool and back safely,” he said.
LOOKING AHEAD
With league finals taking place this week, several league titles are up for grabs, including the boys’ in the South Coast and Sunset leagues.
In the South Coast, third-ranked Capistrano Valley finished undefeated in league. Tenth-ranked San Clemente (3-2) was second, followed by No. 8 Mission Viejo (2-2-1) and No. 9 Dana Hills (2-2-1) tied for third. However, after Alejandro Jacobo became eligible, Mission Viejo easily defeated San Clemente last week.
Third-ranked Fountain Valley and No. 4 Edison will battle for the Sunset title. Fountain Valley defeated the Barons by 22 points in the dual meet, but, thanks to diving, Edison is expected to have a big lead heading into the finals.
*
If you have an item or idea for the swimming report, you can fax us at (714)966-5663 or e-mail us at melanie.neff@latimes.com or paul.mcleod@latimes.com.
(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)
SWIMMING TOP 10
Orange County Coaches’ Poll
GIRLS
*--*
Pos. School League 1. Irvine (1) Sea View 2. San Clemente (2) South Coast 3. Newport Harbor (3) Sea View 4. Santa Margarita (4) Serra 5. Foothill (5) Century 6. Laguna Hills (6) Sea View 7. Esperanza (7) Sunset 8. Canyon (8) Century 9. Cap. Valley (9) S. Coast 10. Sunny Hills (10) Freeway
*--*
BOYS
*--*
Pos. School League 1. Irvine (1) Sea View 2. Santa Margarita (2) Serra 3. Cap. Valley (3) S. Coast 4. Fountain Valley (4) Sunset 5. Edison (5) Sunset 6. Villa Park (6) Century 7. Newport Harbor (7) Sea View 8. Mission Viejo (10) South Coast 9. Dana Hills (NR) South Coast 10. San Clemente (8) South Coast
*--*
Last week’s rankings in parentheses