Foothill's depth too much for Edison (video)

Foothill's boys swim team showed Wednesday that it has the depth to be a formidable dual-meet squad.

The seventh-ranked Knights placed first-second in the 500-yard freestyle and claimed three of the top-four places in the 100 free en route to a 90-80 nonleague victory against No. 6 Edison and Tom Shields at Foothill.

The Cal-bound Shields blazed to victories in the 50-yard freestyle (21.70 seconds) and 100 butterfly (county-leading 52.49) and sparked a pair of relay victories. But Foothill (2-0) won the meet with its depth.

Clayton McFadden (5:05.17) and Conor Golden (5:15.45) led a 1-2 finish in the 500 freestyle, and Paul Pickell led a first-third-fourth finish in the 100 free with 50.46.

"It was a good team win," Foothill coach Jim Brumm said. "You've got to look for the little things like Stephen Donoghue in the B 200 free relay. He came from behind and got us the third-place points. … You have to find those little points here and there."

Foothill's depth also showed in Shields' events. In the 50 free, Pickell (22.27), Jay Lovero (23.53) and Conor Gates (23.76) finished second-third-fourth behind Shields. Edison (2-1) was hurt by a disqualification before the start of the 50, which resulted in the race being restarted after a 10-minute break.

In the 100 fly, Jeff Diller (56.82) and Curtis Stuber (56.82) placed second-third behind Shields.

"Even the events that they (Edison) won," Brumm said, "we were at least staying within two (points for the event)."

Shields led off Edison's winning medley (1:45.44) and 400 free relays (3:21.87). His 100 free split was a 48.45. Earlier, Shields amazed onlookers with his long underwater streamline in the butterfly. "Where is he?" one onlooker asked.

"He's an incredible swimmer," Brumm said of Shields. "It's great to have him swim in a meet here and for our kids to see him. I know we had some age-group kids watching the meet, too. I think that was kind of neat for our kids to see that."

Edison freshman Josh Smith had a strong debut by capturing the 200 free in 1:48.61.

In other nonleague boys meets:

Beckman 126, Vista 44: Charlie Rimkus won the 200 freestyle in a county-leading 1:42.57 and the 100 butterfly in 52.67.

Servite 119, Valencia 51: JD Marcin captured the 100 free (49.19) and 100 breast (1:02.24) to lead the visiting Friars (2-0).

Esperanza 124, Canyon 46: Daniel Lenhart won the 50 free in 22.86 to pace the host Aztecs (1-0).

In nonleague girls swimming:

No. 6 Esperanza 116, Canyon 83: Alyssa Tran blazed to a 24.54 in the 50 free to pace the host Aztecs (1-0). Tran defeated Canyon sophomore Nicole Proulx (25.27) in the two-lap race. Proulx came back to capture the 100 free in 55.23. Tran won the breaststroke in 1:08.41.

Kennedy 87, Costa Mesa 83: Freshman Abigail Oshiro won the 100 butterfly in 1:03.70 to pace the host Fighting Irish.

Rosary 89, Valencia 81: Hannah Croghan captured the 50 free (25.79) to help lead the visiting Royals.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com