San Marcos girls swimming coach Brian Roth remembers six years ago, when only two of his swimmers qualified for the varsity finals at the Channel League Championships.
This time around he has 18.
Twelve Royals made top-6 finishes on Tuesday and another six advanced to the consolation championships at the league prelims, hosted by Santa Barbara High but held at San Marcos’ pool.
Seniors Flo chardon (50, 100 freestyle) , Shannon Orr (100 breast), Emilia Wakamatsu (200 IM and 100 Fly) , Emily Wheeler (100 fly and 500 free), Jade Fitzgerald (50 and 100 free), and Tori Ward (100 back) will all swim in the finals on Friday.
Santa Barbara High also had a great day of competition. Camille Wissman took first in the 200 freestyle and third in the 500 free. Kelsey O’Brien (100, 500 freestyle), Samantha King (50, 100 free) and Amanda Wilson (50 free, 100 butterfly) all had top-6 finishes in their events. Sophie Trabucco was fourth in the 200 free and seventh in the 500 free. Her sister Maddie was fifth in the 100 breast and seventh in the 50 free.
Dos Pueblos also qualified a host of swimmers, and coach Leslie Wiggins-Roth highlighted a pleasant surprise-performance turned in by Laurel Kistler, who swam 2:00.80 in the 200 free, earning first in her heat and third overall.
The boys swim at San Marcos on Wednesday at 2 p.m.
