Mustangs are ready to repeat

Steve Virgen

Costa Mesa High girls swim coach Tim Postiff said the Mustangs’

attempt to defend their Golden West League title will be tough.

That might be an understatement, considering the challenges Costa

Mesa is facing. Last year, the Mustangs graduated four seniors,

including Katie Thorsness, who won Golden West League titles in the

200- and 500-yard freestyles and contributed to the winning 200

medley relay team.

Costa Mesa will also be without junior Sarah Bowman, an improving

freestyler who remains dealing with tendinitis in her shoulder from

the water polo season. Bowman was the Golden West League’s Most

Valuable Player, scoring 83 goals (24 in league play) and leading the

Mustangs to their first outright league title.

Postiff said there is a chance Bowman will not play water polo

next year.

“It’s really painful for her,” Postiff said. “I don’t want her to

do something that’s going to hurt her. I’m hoping she will get

better. She is far too good of an athlete to be out of the water.”

Postiff, who was an assistant to Bob Shupp last year and coached

the girls water polo team this year, remains hopeful the Mustangs can

repeat. Costa Mesa will try to build off the momentum created from

the girls water polo team’s season.

Senior Jessica Steenhard, who scored 46 goals for the Mustangs’

water polo team, will be leading Costa Mesa, swimming the 100

butterfly and 200 individual medley events. Postiff described junior

Patricia Schuppert as a jack of all trades, as she can compete in the

100 fly, 500 free and 200 free among others.

Juniors Christine Twohig, Allyson Harris and Carley Millian also

played on the water polo team and plan to score for the Mustangs.

Millian has been rehabilitating nicely since tearing her anterior

cruciate ligament in soccer last year, Postiff said.

Sophomores Chandra Malapira and Annie Le, who played on the water

polo team, will also be depended upon for points.

“It will be tough to repeat,” Postiff said. “Our main competition

was Orange and they have a lot returning.”