A balanced team of depth carries the Northwood Timberwolves in a winning formula against Pacific Coast League high schools at the Irvine City Relay Championships. Photo via Swim Staff.
The Northwood Timberwolves swim dominance did not cease when the year changed. They seem to be picking up right where they left off, as a team determined to continue their aquatic prowess in the Pacific Coast League.
On Friday February 22, 2019, the Northwood Timberwolves boys opened their campaign to defend the 2018 Irvine City Relay Championships at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center. Their relentless drive was evident capturing the title for another consecutive year, while the girls claimed 2nd place overall.
There was great jockeying for position along the ladder from Beckman, Irvine, University, and Woodbridge high schools. The championship meet featured a unique set of relays each of which alternated male and female competitors in 28 event performances.
The Timberwolves boys scored 826 points, followed by University with 788, Beckman 648, Irvine 588, Woodbridge 588, and Portola completing the finishing order with 290.
On the girl's side, Woodbridge captured the title with 818 points. Northwood came home second at 764, Irvine 662, Beckman 610, followed by University with 524, and Portola rounding out the scoring with 210.
Vastly different from last year's CIF State Championship winning squad, the Northwood boys team lost some of its key veteran seniors, but still a revamped balanced team of young talents who turned in a variety of solid performances today. The Timberwolves' roster depth allows new faces to step up at any time, and that will need to happen in order to establish itself atop the Pacific Coast League once again.
“I don't solely put success on performance, but from tonight's smiles I think we created a wonderful memory," said Head Coach Alex Nieto. "If we create a right family attitude and each get better individually, success is inevitable."
The meet certainly provided plenty of promise for the Timberwolves as they approach their dual meet season in conference league play. As the preseason competition continues to shine the Timberwolves will face yet another showdown at next Tuesday's triangular home meet again Fountain Valley & L.B. Wilson High Schools.
400 IM Relay
The JV Girls opened with a very tight race in the 400 IM relay (100 IM/per swimmer), as Rachel Gima split a 1:16.18, Joyce Kim (1:14.66), Jasroop Miglani (1:16.73), and Sarah Hsu (1:14.85) put up a combined 5:02.42 for the top time. Second place went to Woodbridge's Team A with 5:07.23, while Northwood's Team-B rounded third in 5:11.46. The JV Northwood Boys led early in the 400 IM, getting a 1:02.52 from Justin Chung, and Danny Kim (1:00.57), but the Timberwolves vaulted their team into the lead on the third leg with Leo Glessman (1:03.16) and Kevin Hong anchoring a field-best 1:02.60 to seal the win of 4:08.85. Northwood's Team-B touched in at 4:22.20 for second, while Beckman rounded out the top three in 4:37.38. Northwood Varsity girls put up some very fast times, quite comparable to the ones they did last year, and came away with a first place win with Carolyn Nguyen (1:03.70), Corina Lee (1:04.54), Olivia Chen (1:05.49), and Amanda Hsieh (58.90). Irvine touched second in the event in 4:19.94, and Beckman rounding third in 4:23.83.
300 Free Relay
Northwood JV Girls hit the wall second with a 2:56.55 from Joyce Kim (29.12), Kacy Kesler (24,14), Ariel Lee (27.25), and anchor Whitney Maynard (30.33). Woodbridge finished first (2:56.32) with Irvine Team-A touching in for third with a 3:00.76. On the JV Boys side, the Timberwolves Team-B were able to put together a second place showing in 2:36.39 with their team of Charles Shobe (26.86), Niko Honda (26.05), Aaron Kim (25.91), and propelling to a 27.10 anchor Charles Yang. Woodbridge finished first in 2:31.81 with Irvine in second (2:37.86). The Varsity Northwood Girls excelled following up with yet another second place win. The Team-A of Lauren Kim (26.52), Helena Zhou (27.83), Malak Hassouna (26.19), and anchor Victoria Nguyen (25.70) stopped the clock in 2:37.50. Woodbridge won the event in 2:35.93, while Irvine rounded third in 2:38.16. The Northwood Varsity Boy Team-A race proved to be an exciting splash-and-dash, with David Xue (22.30), Colman Sun (23.25), Enoch Lai (22.54), and anchor Christopher Pukszta (22.93) combining for the winning finish of 2:16.77. University swam to a second in 2:17.17, while Beckman followed in 2:19.54.
200 Breast Relay
In the 200 breast relay, Northwood's Brynna Hsia lead off the JV Girls, powering the team to a 38.74 flat start leg with members Sarah Hsu (39.59), Charlotte Waddell (39.72), and Kylie Kenyon (37.75) closing out the relay in 2:35.80 for second. The Woodbridge JV pulled in the win with 2:35.45, while Irvine Team-A finished third in 2:40.53. The Northwood JV Boys managed to finish first with the team of Kevin Hong (31.99), Grant Lai (31.29), Orlando Olague (32.56), and anchor Sean Doan (32.98) combining a 2:08.82. University finished (2:18.73) with Woodbridge third (2:19.11).
400 Breast Relay
Connor Budka, Northwood Senior, wasted no time in this race, getting out in 1:01.12. Teammate Jeremy Mah clocked a 1:04.20, Emiliano Olague (1:03.11) with Colman Sun coming hard with a 1:02.33 to bring in the second spot for Northwood in 4:10.76. University grabbed first with 4:07.06, and Beckman rounded third in 4:17.22.
200 Fly Relay
In the 200 fly relay, JV Girls took third out of lane three, touching in 2:17.59 with the foursome of Sarah Hsu (34.93), Kacy Kesler (34.10), Joyce Kim (34.97) and Rachel Gima (33.59). Irvine won the event in 2:10.00 with Woodbridge second in 2:13.49. Northwood's JV Boys took top honors in winning the 200 fly thanks in large part to the efforts of Ben Chen (27.55), Gautam Chaudhry (26.79), Danny Kim (27.04), and anchor Jack Liu (26.31). orthwood and Beckman boys dueled early, with Northwood's Jack Liu just outpacing Beckman's Patrick Hajali 26.55 to 28.25. Northwood's Gautam Chaudhri (27.12) outsplit Beckman's Darren Sohn (28.26), but Alec Overbaugh put together a 26.28 split that pulled way ahead of Beckman's Brandon Chen (28.19) with quite the lead for anchor Noah Pendleton (27.40) to take the top combined time of 1:47.35. Beckman turned second in 1:52.29 with Portola touching in for third in 1:55.92.
200 Back Relay
The JV Girls delivered a first place showing of 2:19.20 for Northwood. Jasroop Miglani started off with a 35.97 split followed by Brynna Hsia who joined forces on a 42.81. Lilly Zhao clocked a 27.16 with anchor Charlotte Waddell stretching to the wall for a split of 33.26. Woodbridge took second in 2:22.80 with Northwood Team-B stopping the clock at 2:28.28 in claiming third. Northwood's JV boys went 1-2 in the event, with Max Abravanel (29.40), Ben Chen (27.96), Justin Chung in at 3rd (28.49), and anchor Nolan Chomin (27.65) combing for first place in 1:53.50. Northwood's Team-B raced to second in 1:59.90 with Matthew O'Neill (29.97), Kendrick Pham (30.13), Nathaniel Irwan (30.99), and anchor Daivik Patel (28.81). Irvine's Team-A hit the wall in 2:03.87.
400 Free Relay
The Northwood JV Girls earned second in 4:29.79, which was achieved with the combination of Ariel Lee (1:08.72), Kacy Kesler (1:06.94), Mia Tomovic Savinov (1:08.60), and Molly Mcllrath (1:05.53). Woodbridge took first in 4:25.54, while Beckman picked up third with 4:39.74. JV Boys produced winning finish touching in 3:34.92 with Nolan Chum (53.27), Kevin Hong (53.64), Danny Kim (55.22) and anchorSean Doan (52.79). Woodbridge was behind with second (3:47.16), while University locked down third 3:50.63. The Varsity Lady T-Wolves came roaring out of the blocks in the 400 free relay with Carolyn Nguyen (57.51), Victoria Nguyen (56.99), Malak Hassouna (58.10), and Amanda Hsieh (52.97) who left the rest of the field in their wake with a five second advantage over Woodbridge's 3:50.32. Irvine rounded third in 3:57.58. The Varsity Boys had a good match-up with University, but their second half was tough to beat (3:21.07). Colman Sun (52.09), Christopher Pukszta (50.22), Connor Budka (52.43), and David Xue (47.85) combined to touch second in 3:22.59. Beckman followed in for third 3:25.42.
200 Medley Relay
Northwood's JV Boys came together leading off with Max Abravanel (38.41-back), Les Giessman (32.01-breast), Jack Liu (26.29-fly), and Ben Chen (24.09-free) coming home to ice things for the top time in 1:50.80. Irvine took second in 1:56.15, while University rounded third (2:00.73). End of day competition saw the Varsity Girls give the crowd a first in the 200 medley relay with Avery Liu (29.72-back), Corina Lee (32.61-breast), Amanda Hsieh (26.62-fly), and Olivia Chen (24.88-free) bringing it home in 1:53.83. Woodbridge placed second with 1:57.03, while University clocked 1:59.37 for third. Northwood Varsity Boys turned in a third place 1:44.63. Youssef Elseifi (28.54-back), Conner Budka (28.85-breast), Felix Zhu (24.22-fly), and anchor the free Christopher Pukszta (23.02). Top time went to University with 1:38.82, and Beckman put in second (1:42.79).
Irvine City Relay Championships-Meet Combined Scores
Men
Northwood High School 826.00
University High School 788.00
Beckman High School 648.00
Irvine High School 588.00
Woodbridge High School 588.00
Portola High School 290.00
Women
Woodbridge High School 826.00
Northwood High School 764.00
Irvine High School 662.00
Beckman High School 610.00
University High School 524.00
Portola High School 210.00