College stars watch Edison girls overwhelm Fountain Valley

Edison's girls swim team received extra motivation Tuesday from a surprise visitor on the pool deck at Fountain Valley.

Edison alumna Cindy Tran, the recently crowned NCAA Division 1 100-yard backstroke champion for team champion Cal, attended the rivalry meet.

"We just wanted her to get on a (swim) suit and jump in with us — we wish," Edison senior Maddie Seaberry said. "It was just really motivating that she came to support us."

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Edison's second-ranked girls didn't need Tran against the Barons this time.

Sophomore Kylie Boyce captured the 200-yard individual medley (2 minutes, 10.41 seconds) and 100 breaststroke (1:07.54) as the Chargers used their depth to defeat No. 9 Fountain Valley, 100-70, in the Sunset League opener for each school.

Fountain Valley (2-1, 0-1) won seven of 11 events, thanks in part to doubles by Shelby Webber (200 free, 100 back) and Jaime Dang (fly, 500) and two freestyle relays.

The Chargers swept the top three places in the 200 IM and breaststroke. They also claimed the second-third-fourth spots in the 50 free and 500 free.

"We were really happy because in past years, we've always been really close to Fountain Valley, but we kind of blew them out of the water today," said Seaberry, who took fourth in the 500 (5:31.55).

Edison (4-1, 1-0) has been striving to improve since suffering a rare dual-meet loss to Mater Dei on March 10. "I guess it's kind of good that we got beat by Mater Dei because now our fire is even bigger," Seaberry said. "In practices, we try to get everyone involved and everyone trying hard."

Tran wasn't the only alumnae on the pool deck. UCLA teammates Cynthia Fascella (Fountain Valley) and Yasi Jahanshahi, (Edison) attended the meet. Like Tran, they were on spring break.

"We were just training together and now she (Tran) is the best in college," said Webber, a former club teammate of Tran at Golden West.

Webber teamed with Dang, Taylor Johnson and freshman Sarah Yao to claim the 200 (1:39.87) and 400 free (3:42.26) relays. Webber clocked an easy-looking 58.76 to take the back. Dang won the fly with a 58.45.

Josh Smith clocked a county-leading 53.24 in the back to help Edison's No. 4 boys beat Fountain Valley, 118-52.

In South Coast girls:

Aliso Niguel 93, No. 10 El Toro 77: Melanie Klaren won the back in an All-America consideration 56.59 to help lead the host Wolverines (1-0-1 in league).

In South Coast boys:

El Toro 110, Aliso Niguel 60: Tanner Cridland won the 200 IM (2:01.33) and fly (54.40) for the visiting Chargers.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com