2009 All-County Girls Swimmer of the Year: Cindy Tran

Cindy Tran didn't reach her lofty, individual goals at the CIF-SS Division I swim finals but that was fine with her.

"It didn't really matter," the Edison junior said. "I'm still so excited we won CIF. � It was so fun."

Tran embraced the team concept and saved arguably her best swims of the season for the relays. And in the end, she did plenty to help Edison reach its team goal: a first CIF title.

For her efforts, Tran is The Register's girls swimmer of the year in 2009.

Tran recorded high school swimming's version of a perfect game at the Division I finals.

The double-Sunset League champion won her two individual races and paced two winning relays. Four races, four CIF titles.

Tran wasn't pushed in capturing the 100-yard butterfly (54.31) and 100 backstroke (53.73). While she wanted to be faster, both times have a chance to finish in the top 15 in the nation this year.

Her butterfly also ranks third in county history, and Tran remains the only county girl to break 54 seconds in the backstroke.

But it was on the relays where Tran distinguished herself.

In the medley relay, she blazed a 24.63 leadoff, backstroke leg. Edison went on to capture the race in a Division I- and county-record 1 minute, 43.60 seconds.

Tran's leadoff was about a full second faster than Diana MacManus' backstroke split when Irvine set the records in 2002.

Tran closed out the Division I final in equally impressive fashion. Going into the anchor leg of the 400 free relay, Edison trailed season-rival Hart of Newhall by almost 2� seconds and Woodbridge by about a half-second. But Tran split the final 100 yards in a sizzling 49.34 - the fastest of the race by almost a second - to lead Edison to the victory by about a second in 3:28.18, third fastest in county history.

"She pulled it out," relay teammate Ellie Morrissey said of Tran, whose season-best anchor was an eye-popping 48.75.

While Tran's anchor put the final touches on the Division I crown, she said a season of team bonding and inspired relays taught her more than any coveted, individual time would have.

"I learned that without that (team unity), you can't have fun and without fun, you can't go fast," Tran said.