Roundup: University's Wong opens with impressive backstroke
University’s Chris Wong opened his season Wednesday by posting a time that probably caught the attention of his fellow Division 1 contenders.
The junior clocked an All-America consideration time in the 100-yard backstroke to help the No. 8 Trojans cruise past visiting San Juan Hills, 137-27, in a Pacific Coast League meet.
In his first meet of the season, the Irvine Aquazot club swimmer won the dorsal event in a county-leading 52.38 seconds.
Wong also won the 200 free in 1:44.78 for the Trojans (4-0, 1-0).
Last season at the Division 1 finals, Wong didn't race in the backstroke. He finished fourth in the 200 free and eighth in the 500 free.
In another Pacific Coast meet:
No. 9 Irvine 89, Beckman 81: The Vaqueros raced Gen Yamamoto on all three relays, and the strategy paid off against the visiting Patriots. Irvine won both freestyles relays en route to a tight victory. Yamamoto also captured the 500 free in 4:47.
In one of the most exciting races of the day, Beckman freshman Nicolas Manders out-touched Irvine’s Kevin Barbrick to take the 100 breaststroke by one one-hundredths of a second with a 1:02.01. Beckman’s Andy Morita won the 100 butterfly in 52.88.
In the Century:
Brea Olinda 109, Villa Park 61: Senior Jake Fletcher captured the 50 (21.98) and 100 (49.09) freestyles as the visiting Wildcats (3-0, 1-0) defeated the defending champion Spartans for a second consecutive season. Fletcher’s 50 was an automatic Division 2 qualifying time.
Stephen Hall also was a key contributor for Brea Olinda. Hall out-dueled BJ Churnside of Villa Park in the breaststroke to touch first in 1:02.48.
The Wildcats nearly posted an automatic qualifying standard in 200 medley relay. George Wright, Hall, Dyllan Williams and Fletcher combined to capture the race in 1:42.99.
Brea Olinda’s Ryan Lank later won the 100 backstroke in 58.20, Division 2 consideration time.
“I was real proud of the guys,” Brea Olinda coach Gil Rotblum said.
In the South Coast:
Dana Hills 101, Tesoro 69: John Carney clocked a 23.32 to led a sweep in the 50 freestyle, helping the host Dolphins (3-1, 1-0) open league with a victory. Jonathan Amato won the 100 breaststroke in a lifetime-best 1:03.79. Spencer Wollkind of Tesoro impressed by taking the 200 free in 1:44 and the 100 free in 47.68.
In the Garden Grove League:
Rancho Alamitos 85.5, Garden Grove 81.5: Alex Cisneros captured the 200 individual medley in a swift 1:59.48 to lead the visiting Vaqueros. In the 500 free, John Lee of Rancho Alamitos dropped 15 seconds to clock a 5:35.15.
In the Golden West League:
Ocean View 92, Westminster 79: Pedram Shafiei clocked a 1:04.20 in the butterfly to help pace the visiting Seahawks.
In girls swimming:
In the Pacific Coast League:
No. 2 University 140, San Juan Hills 17: Megan Rankin posted two automatic Division 1 qualifying times in her season debut to lead the host Trojans (4-0, 1-0). The sophomore captured the 200 free in 1:55.67 and took the 500 free in a county-leading 5:03.60.
Laguna Hills 107, Corona del Mar 62: The visiting Hawks were at full strength and it showed. Laguna Hills (1-4, 1-0) swept all three relays and finished first-second in the 500 free, 100 back and 100 breast. Courtney Wilde claimed the 50 (24.55) and 100 (53.68) freestyles while Julia Crowley won the fly (1:00.27) and back (1:01.79).
In the Golden West League:
Ocean View 119, Westminster 50: Taylor Wilson clocked a 1:09.56 in the backstroke to help led the visiting Seahawks.
