With many of Morgan Hill's top swimmers away on summer vacation, last weekend's Coast Valley Aquatics League finals was left in the hands of a much smaller troupe of Makos.
They didn't disappoint.
Backed by nine top-three finishes, the meet-hosting Morgan Hill Swim Club finished sixth in the boy's team standings, seventh in the girl's and seventh overall.
The Makos finished eighth a year ago.
"We moved up from last year. I was pleased with that, especially because so many of our heavy hitters were gone," Morgan Hill Swim Club coach Mark Scott said in a telephone interview Tuesday. "This was a really good opportunity for the swimmers that didn't qualify for any of the championship meets. We had a lot of kids scoring that don't normally do so. I was happy with the number of swimmers we had and was pretty happy with the way they swam."
The Makos sent 51 swimmers to the two-day meet in Morgan Hill Aquatics Center, composing a small fraction of the 10-team, 670-person field. They totaled 1,061 team points, getting bested by sixth-place San Benito Aquatics (1,635.5).
The Gilroy Gators Swim Team placed third in all three championship races, while the Monterey Bay Swim Club swept each, scoring 1,791 in the girl's standings, 1,922 in the boy's and 3,713 overall.
"It would have been fun to see how we would have done with everything there," Scott said. "But our swimmers needed the rest. They've been working hard this summer."
Sesa Ferdun included. The 10-year-old had one of the biggest meets among Morgan Hill swimmers, placing second on the 10-and-under individual points list - also known as the high-point. Ferdun won the 50-meter breaststroke in 39.22 seconds and took silver in the 100- and 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter individual medley. Her overall score of 101 was second only to Cabrillo's Sarah Shimomura (117).
"Sesa had a great meet," Scott said. "She just got touched out in her two second-place swims. She definitely could have taken the high-point. Six months ago, that wouldn't have been possible."
Ferdun's teammate Kaitlin Rooney, 8, also challenged for an individual crown. Swimming in the 8-and-under division, Rooney finished fifth, highlighted by her third-place effort in the 100 IM.
"She swam very well," Scott added of Rooney.
Also for the Makos, Madison Trocha, 10, edged Iliana Hayes of Slug Aquatics for first in the 50 free (55.26), and Gabrielle Smith placed second in the same event in the 11-12 division.
On the boy's side, Morgan Hill's Elijah Urbina, 9, parlayed a 100 IM victory into a bronze finish in the 10-and-under point standings. Teammates Connor Tran, 8, placed second in the 25-meter breaststroke, and Tristan Bolt was third in the 50 free.
Morgan Hill's Prashan Welipitiya, 14, reached the finals in four different events while clocking personal-best times, and Zachary Greymont, 12, shaved seconds off his PRs in most of his events, Scott said.
Scott J. Adams Scott J. Adams covers Morgan Hill sports for South Valley Newspapers. Send him an email or call him at 779-4106.
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