Relay teams break three school records to power swim team past Cabrillo and Maranatha

The swim team won its first ever CIF- Southern Section Division IV title May 13, beating runner-up Cabrillo High School by 45 points to take the title.

Seven swimmers qualified for the CIF-SS final, where they broke a total of seven school records, including all three relay records. All seven swimmers, Isabel ’11, Liliana ’13, Angella ’12, Caitlin ’10, Helen ’13, Bailey ’11, and Erica ’11 swam personal best times at the meet and Liliana, Angella, Bailey and Erica broke individual school records.

Despite strong races, Bailey said the win still came as a surprise.

“Winning was kind of crazy. We had known that Maranatha would be a big competitor, but didn’t realize that Cabrillo would be so competitive,” she said. “I don’t think we stopped screaming for fifteen minutes.”

Head Coach Peter Lambert said that team unity was a big asset towards the team’s success.

“What struck me at both league finals and CIF finals was the way in which the girls worked together to make sure we scored maximum points. All the girls were very supportive toward each other,” he said.

Swim team members Sacha ’10 and Gracie ’13 even dressed up as Sally the Mustang and a cheerleader to support their fellow teammates and Helen said that the swimmers supported each other throughout the CIF meet.

“We worked really well together [during the relays] and we were cheering and screaming at the top of our lungs for everyone,” Helen said.

The CIF win concluded a strong season for JV and varsity which both finished their seasons undefeated. Before CIF, eleven swimmers qualified for the Sunshine League finals.

Lambert said that after a great season and a CIF win, expectations for the team are being amplified.

“The ramifications of being CIF champions this year will put pressure on us from all sides for years to come.  People from all over the state now associate the Marlborough name with swimming along with basketball, track and cross country.  Coaches and swimmers from other teams will be looking to see if Marlborough can carry on with its winning tradition not only at league but CIF,” he said.

The team will have its work cut out for it next year, when it will move up to the more competitive Division III.  They will also lose, along with graduating seniors, Helen and Bailey, who are both moving out of state.