It all came together for senior David Dunn at the Central Coast
Section Swimming and Diving Championships at Independence High last
weekend.
It all came together for senior David Dunn at the Central Coast Section Swimming and Diving Championships at Independence High last weekend.
Things went so well for the Live Oak High standout, he even surprised himself.
Capping one of the most dominant careers in school history, Dunn won not one but two individual titles — the 100 butterfly and the 100 breaststroke, turning in high school All-American times in both — and he helped lead the Acorn boys swim team to a stunning third-place finish overall at the CCS finals.
“I’ve done more than I ever wanted,” Dunn said. “I never expect to win, I just do the best I can. But I thought I could (win the titles). I’m happy with it.”
Saturday’s double victory for Dunn included a 100 fly time of 50.12, about two seconds better than his All-American time of last year in the same event, and a 57.29 in the 100 breast.
In fact, Live Oak coach Don Vierra said Dunn was so hot he could probably have finished among the top swimmers in nearly any individual event. Vierra coached both the Live Oak boys and girls teams in last weekend’s event, filling in for Mack Haines who underwent surgery last week.
“I can’t think of an event he wouldn’t have been competitive in,” Vierra said.
But both Dunn and Vierra seemed more impressed with the Live Oak boys team’s overall performance in capturing third.
“I’m kind of blown away,” Vierra said. “I’m so proud of these guys.”
Live Oak’s boys were actually in second place until the final event, when Menlo passed them. Bellarmine easily won the boys team title.
Besides his individual performances, Dunn also led two Acorn relay teams into the finals.
Dunn, junior Ryan Gautschi, junior Dennis Lowe and sophomore Shea Coleman took third place in the 200 medley relay in 1:39.79; and, Dunn, Gautschi, senior Travis Aviles and sophomore Justin Short finished fifth in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:30.01.
In addition, Live Oak junior divers Stephen Shope and Lee Bell finished 12th and 13th, respectively, in the CCS finals.
Meanwhile, the Live Oak girls relay team of senior Susan Suchomel, sophomore Ronni Gautschi, sophomore Laura Melroy and freshman Laura Shope also made the final day of competition in two events.
The Acorn girls qualified in the top 16 in the 200 fresstyle relay during Friday’s trials, but just missed qualifying in the 400 freestyle and the 200 medley relays, finishing 17th in both events.
But Live Oak got good news Saturday morning when it was announced that another school’s team had to scratch from the 400 freestyle relay finals, giving the Acorn girls team the final spot.
The Acorns took 11th in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:44.17, then finished 16th in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:49.91.
Suchomel, who made it to CCS all four years and was swimming in her last high school meet, said the relay team’s performance was the highlight of the season.
“This year was special with the relay teams, we did very well and improved on all our times (at CCS),” Suchomel said. “This was a really good end to my swimming career because we did better than we thought we would. I think they will be a great team in the next few years.”
In addition, Suchomel took 20th in the 100 butterfly.
Other Live Oak swimmers who competed at CCS included: Amy Marshall (200 medley relay), Kyle Fast (500 freestyle), and Cameron Peachy (100 backstroke).
