Live Oak sending eight swimmers to CCS; Sobrato entering six
MORGAN HILL — Live Oak’s Katie Rick hasn’t taken anything for granted in her senior year.
Her plans to swim and play water polo at the collegiate level were all but finalized after an impressive junior campaign, but Rick went into her final year with the same goal of improving each time she entered the pool.
“That’s what a true champion does,” Live Oak swim coach Lynn Gautschi said in April, after Rick signed her Letter of Intent to compete for Loyola Marymount University. “To be your best, you have to push yourself. You can never be satisified. That’s been Katie’s approach since Day 1.”
Tuesday, Rick and her teammates were back in the water at Live Oak High School, tapering for the Central Coast Section Championships that will be held Friday and Saturday at the Santa Clara International Swim Center. The meet will be Rick’s final chance to cut time in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard breaststroke — and also to swim with some of her close friends in the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays.
Rick will join senior Sarah D’Angelo, Rachel Cretcher and Michelle Mikaelsson, a talented foursome that reached the consolation final heat for the 400-freestyle relay in 2009.
“If Rachel can swim it’ll be a lot of fun,” Rick said, alluding to an ankle injury that limited Cretcher’s training this week. “It’s been great because Sarah and I have been on a relay the past four years, and, as soon as Rachel and Michelle came in, we’ve been together. I don’t know what it’s going to feel like after.”
Rick’s goal is to qualify for Saturday’s championship heats in each of her swims. She made consols in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM last year, placing 15th in the latter event.
Rick captured a third consecutive league title in the 100 breast May 7 with a personal-record finish of one minute, 8.71 seconds at Mount Hamilton Division Finals.
“I’d like to go 2:11 in the IM,” she said. “But I really just want to come back for finals Saturday.”
Mikaelsson will swim the same events as Rick. The sophomore touched second behind her in the 100 breast at league finals.
Cretcher is scheduled to swim the 100- and 200-yard freestyle.
The Live Oak boys are sending one relay and freshman Ryan McCombs, who qualified in the 200 IM and 50-yard freestyle.
“He’s just a freshman, but he’s had a great year,” Gautschi said. “He’s been doing really well these past two weeks. I hope he finishes in the top 25.”
McCombs will swim anchor in a 200-freestyle relay with Daniel Enriquez, Saul Orona and Danny Robinson. That foursome met the CCS standard in its final swim at league finals.
“For them, it’s good just to be there. That’s what it’s about for them,” Live Oak water polo coach Mack Haines said.
Fresh off nearly capturing a second straight title in the Santa Teresa Division Finals last week, the Sobrato boys will be represented by Adam Jasper, Patrick Read, Danny Thompson and Paul Watts in the 200-yard medley and freestyle relays.
For the Lady Bulldogs, freshman Christiana Bridges will swim the 50- and 500-yard freestyle, and Gabrielle Smith is entered in the 200 IM.
