Aliso Niguel shows its strength vs. Laguna Hills

ALISO VIEJO - Aliso Niguel girls swim coach Ryan Cox appeared to take no chances with his lineup for Laguna Hills on Friday.

The 13-year veteran made strong moves that showed plenty of respect for the Hawks.

Cox stacked his first and last relays, and guessed correctly in matching his standout junior, Melanie Klaren, against rising freshman Christy Wilde in the 100-yard freestyle.

The Wolverines' tactics paid off, and then some. The county's No. 8 girls team handled shorthanded Laguna Hills, 106-64, in a nonleague meet at Aliso Niguel.

Aliso Niguel's boys (1-1) posted a 107-59 triumph.

The Wolverines' girls (2-0) placed first in nine of the 11 events, including the 200-yard freestyle relay. Aliso Niguel showed its depth as the sprint team of Breanna Walker, Angie Sullivan, Alia Bonetti and Amanda Gottfredson won in 1 minute, 47.45 seconds – a Division 1 consideration time.

"(Coach) Cox put up a great lineup," Klaren said. "It gave us depth in a lot of events."

Klaren continued to provide top-end speed. She cranked out her second 52-second 100 freestyle in as many dual meets this season with a 52.79, which outdistanced Wilde by about 1 1/2 second.

Klaren later won the 100 back in 59.41 seconds, which could have captured the boys dorsal event.

Navy-bound Rheanna Vaughn cruised to victories in the 200 free (2:01.06) and 100 butterfly (59.85) for the Wolverines.

Senior Camille Merwin made her dual-meet season debut for Aliso Niguel and posted a pair of Division 1 standards. The North Dakota signee just missed the automatic qualifying time in the 200 individual medley by clocking a 2:11.70. But in the 100 breaststroke, Merwin stopped the clock in an automatic 1:07.92.

Aliso Niguel won the medley (1:52.29) and 400 free (3:46.19) relays.

Wilde won the 50 free in 25.79 but the Hawks struggled without Courtney Wilde, Erica Taylor and Kendall Brown.  Taylor and Brown are at NCS Junior Nationals in Orlando.

Laguna Hills (0-4) has lost to No. 5 Mission Viejo, No. 6 Santa Margarita and Tesoro.

"Our schedule is as strong as it gets, really," Laguna Hills coach Blake Corbin said.

In the boys meet, freshman Janardan Burns won 200 free (1:50.60) and 500 free (4:51.35).