Acorns have wide range of goals for Mount Hamilton Finals
MORGAN HILL — Live Oak junior Danny Robinson couldn’t stand still before the 50-yard freestyle Friday.
Sprinters typically get their blood pumping once they take their marks, but Robinson looked on edge well in advance of his first race that afternoon at Live Oak High School. Friday’s meet against Westmont was the last league dual of the season and one of few chances left to make the cut for Central Coast Section swimming.
Going in, the LOHS boys had one qualifier in freshman Ryan McCombs, a dedicated 50 freestyler himself. Robinson was on the bubble to join him in the event or qualify later in the 200-yard freestyle relay with Saul Orona, Daniel Enriquez and McCombs.
Robinson took a deep breath as he stepped onto the platform. His coaches leaned forward in their chairs; stopwatches cleared, eyes fixed.
“We’re hoping this is the day,” Lynn Gautschi said. “Danny’s done everything he can to make CCS. Now, he just has to do it.”
A trying trend continued as Robinson covered the breathless sprint in a personal-record 24.5 seconds — less than two seconds too slow for a CCS standard. The 200-yard freestyle relay finish (1:35.75 PR) was a more agonizing .36 of a second off, but Robinson wasn’t discouraged by either race.
He is on pace to deliver his best performance Thursday, when the two-day Mount Hamilton Division Finals begin at Gunderson High School.
“I do my best under pressure; the bigger the meet, the better the time,” Robinson said after his 50 freestyle. “I might be a little nervous at finals, but I’ll definitely be confident. I know I can do this.”
On the boys’ side, Robinson’s swims will be two of the biggest to watch this week. Neither of Live Oak’s teams has a decent chance of winning league, but the Lady Acorns have a trio of swimmers who will challenge for first in all three of their individual CCS events.
Katie Rick, a Loyola Marymount-bound two-sport athlete, will swim the 200-yard individual medley, 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke, which she won at league finals the past two years. Sophomore Michelle Mikaelsson will battle in the 100-yard butterfly, 100 breaststroke and race alongside junior teammate Rachel Cretcher in the 500-yard freestyle. Cretcher will also swim the 100- and 200-yard freestyle.
“They’re team players. They’re willing to swim whatever we ask them to for points,” said Gautschi, whose girls finished 4-3 in league with a 95-79 win over Westmont. “I’m really proud of the dedication they’ve shown this spring.”
Senior Sarah D’Angelo and sophomore alternate Marissa Sendejas are eligible to swim with Rick, Mikaelsson and Cretcher in all three relays at CCS, but Gautschi said they will likely swim two at league finals.
D’Angelo, who is set to try out for water polo next year at UC-San Diego, was on the cusp of making sectionals in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke again Friday.
“This is a big meet for her,” Gautschi said. “We’re looking for some big swims.”
The Live Oak boys could use some as well after finishing 0-7 in dual meets. Their up-and-down season, coupled with an 88-87 loss in thrilling fashion Friday, should add to the do-or-die excitement this week.
“The guys put together a great meet against Westmont,” LOHS coach Mack Haines said. “They’ve pushed themselves to get better as the season’s gone on.”
McCombs, who is trying to add CCS standards in the 100 breast and 200 IM, will swim the opening leg of the 200-freestyle relay to give the Acorns a good start, Haines said. Enriquez will swim anchor following an impressive individual season.
The foursome’s season could end Thursday should they not advance to Friday’s championship heats.
“Everyone’s just trying to get better right now, get in as many swims as we can,” McCombs said.
