They’re young and not drawing much attention yet but Aliso Niguel’s boys swim team is on the rise.
The Wolverines took a major step toward defending their Sea View League title last week by upsetting No. 10 and host Mission Viejo, 86-84.
Aliso Niguel (4-1, 3-0) used four sophomores, one freshman and one junior in the 400-yard freestyle relay and sealed the meet victory by placing second and third.
Sophomore Aaron Pang, who owns an automatic CIF Division 2 qualifying time in the 100-yard butterfly, anchored one of the relays.
The Wolverines’ top freshman, Sean Slusiewicz wasn’t on either of the relays but teamed with Pang, sophomore Max McKendry and junior Nick Ure to win the 200-yard medley relay in a season-best and Division 2 auto time of 1 minute, 39.44 seconds.
Slusiewicz owns individual Division 2 cuts in the butterfly and 50 free.
“We’re a very young team,” said third-year Aliso Niguel boys coach Jon Puffer, whose team blends four club swimmers with water polo players. “The future is looking good.”
Aliso Niguel finished 33rd in Division 2 last season with Pang and a medley relay in consolation finals recording most of the points.
Top meets this week
Fountain Valley at Edison (Tuesday), Northwood at Corona del Mar (Wednesday) and Foothill Swim Games finals (Saturday).
Legendary Olympic swimmer Shirley Babashoff, who swam at Fountain Valley, will talk to the swimmers before the Fountain Valley-Edison meet.
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