Girls’ Rankings

A look at the preseason top 10 girls’ swim teams in the Southland:

1. Irvine (SS-Div. I)

Vaqueros won fifth consecutive Division I title last year and return Diana MacManus, Flora Kong and Courtney Cashion, who helped set a national record in 200 medley relay.

2. Newport Harbor (SS-Div. I)

Senior Carly Geehr and juniors Hayley Peirsol, Mai Tajima and Nicole Mackey teamed to finish second last season in 400 freestyle relay at Division I final.

3. Esperanza (SS-Div. I)

Sophomore quartet of Andrea Wesolowski, Erin Sieper, Kristina Sieper and Jeannette Nieto finished third last season in 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay at Division I finals.

4. Santa Margarita (SS-Div. I)

Addition of Sarah Hamilton, a member of Irvine’s national record-setting 200 medley relay team last season, should bolster a team returning its 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams, which each finished fifth in Division I.

5. San Clemente (SS-Div. I)

Kristen Caverly can pile up the points for the Tritons. She set a national high school record in the 200 individual medley last season and a state record in the 100 breaststroke.

6. La Serna (SS-Div. III)

Sophomore Morgan Hentzen won the 200 and 500 freestyles and teamed with two other underclassmen and a senior to win the 200 and 400 freestyle relays in the finals, leading La Serna to its second consecutive Division III title.

7. Anaheim Canyon (SS-Div. I)

Erin Volcan won a Division I title last season in the 200 freestyle and leads the returning 200 freestyle relay team, which finished fourth in Division I.

8. Peninsula (SS-Div. II)

Finished second to Crescenta Valley in Division II last season, but returns a more experienced squad, led by junior Katie Nelson in the freestyle.

9. Laguna Hills (SS-Div. I)

Lindsey Buck graduated, but the Hawks return the other members of a 400 freestyle relay team that finished third in Division I, and two members of a 200 medley relay team that was fifth.

10. Rosary (SS-Div. I)

Sophomore Jessica Cruzat heads the Royals’ returning 200 medley relay team that finished seventh in Division I. Cruzat also finished fourth in both the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke.