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Sports

Mira Costa Swimmers Take Dual Meet Victories

Mustangs' girls win all 11 events, sweeping seven, in beating rival Redondo.

On a chilly day, the Mira Costa High swimmers wanted to get into the pool to avoid the cold air. Once the Mustangs got in the water, they wasted no time defeating rival Redondo Union on Thursday in a Bay League dual meet.

A veteran girls team beat the Sea Hawks 139-27, winning all eleven events and recording sweeps in seven of them.

"We're tapering right now, coach Dan Bartlett said. "It's going to be a lot of races and a lot of rest as we get ready for the Bay League finals and hopefully onto CIF. It was a cold day, but this is a good group of girls they are experienced and I am tough on them day in and day out."

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Many of the Mustang girls competed in events that they don't always swim, but it didn't affect the results, and provided for a fun day at the pool.

"We have lots of depth, and have broken some records this year," Lyra Hall said.  "We did well in the middle distances and relays and we just want to improve on our times as we taper and swim our best at the end of the season."

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Hall, a senior, picked up a second place finish in the 200-meter freestyle. Lizzie Kubo-Kirschenbaum picked up a win in the 100-meter backstroke.

"We have really strong swimmers," Kubo-Kirschenbaum said.  "It really helps to be close as a team, we have some really surprising freshmen and younger kids, and everyone pushes and supports each other."

There was a good energy surrounding the girls' side as they cheered each other on and cheerfully waited to congratulate each other. 

Nina Aizpuru-Bartlett commented on the team unity: "Collectively, we're great together and we work really hard.  This season is going by so fast and I think we can really continue to improve and finish strong."

On the boys' side, the Mustangs won 98-66 in a competitive meet where they had individual winners in five of the eleven events, their depth giving them the edge.  Winners included junior Bryan Linnell in the 50-meter freestyle, junior Erik Yan in the 100-meter butterfly and senior captain Spencer Neste in the 100 freestyle.

Neste was swimming the 100 for the first time - he normally swims the 50 freestyle. 

"In water polo, we do a lot of 100's, but this was the first time I did it competitively and I really didn't pace myself, I just went all out and I'm really happy,'' Neste said. ''It's an intense race.''

Senior Brett Mulder had a nice day with second place finishes in both the 100- and 200-meter freestyles. "Our times are progressing, we see the work paying off and I'm in the best shape of my life," he said.

RESULTS

GIRLS VARSITY:

MIRA COSTA 139, REDONDO UNION 27

200 MEDLEY RELAY –  1. MIRA COSTA,

200 FREESTYLE -  1. HANNAH SHULER (MC) 2. LYRA HALL (MC)

200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY- 1. SARA BOOTH (MC) 2. ADINA LUO (MC)

50 FREESTYLE – 1. KRISTIAN KEITH (MC) 2. KELLY BROWN (MC)

100 BUTTERFLY- 1. MERIEL MITSAKOS (MC) 2. JULIA CALISH (MC)

100 FREESTYLE – 1. AKEMI AIELLO (MC) 2. KRISTIAN KEITH (MC)

500 FREESTYLE – 1. MARISA PURCELL (MC) 2. MERIEL MITSAKOS (MC)

4X50 FREESTYLE RELAY – 1. MIRA COSTA

100 BACKSTROKE – 1. ELIZABETH KUBO-KIRSCHENBAUM (MC)

100 BREASTSTROKE – 1. JACQUELINE ROJAS (MC) 2. MARISA PURCELL (MC)

400 FREESTYLE RELAY- 1. MIRA COSTA

BOYS VARSITY:

MIRA COSTA 98, REDONDO UNION 66

200 MEDLEY RELAY –  1. MIRA COSTA 2. REDONDO UNION

200 FREESTYLE – 1. JONATHAN DIAZ (RU) 2. BRETT MULDER (MC)

200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY- 1. HOGAN INSCORE (RU) 2. MARIO NIETO (MC)

50 FREESTYLE – 1. BRYAN LINNELL (MC) 2. TREVOR TARTE (MC)

100 BUTTERFLY- 1. ERIK YAN (MC) 2. ANTHONY SHANNON (MC)

100 FREESTYLE – 1. SPENCER NESTE (MC) 2. BRETT MULDER (MC)

500 FREESTYLE – 1. ERIK DANRYD (RU) 2. JONATHAN DIAZ (RU)

4X50 FREESTYLE RELAY – 1. MIRA COSTA

100 BACKSTROKE – 1 DECLAN ANDREW (RU).  2. SEAN BARTLETT (MC)

100 BREASTSTROKE – 1. HOGAN INSCORE (RU) 2. JUSTIN FILBRICH (MC)

400 FREESTYLE RELAY- 1. REDONDO UNION 2. MIRA COSTA

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