Local roundup: PHS girls swim team's win streak comes to end
Without its two of its top swimmers, it was considered a foregone conclusion that the Porterville High girls swim team’s winning streak in the East Yosemite League would come to an end. But the Panthers didn’t go down without a fight.
Porterville lost at Tulare Union 103-82 on Friday, ending a six-year dual meet winning streak in the EYL. PHS hadn’t lost a EYL dual meet from 2006-2011. The Panthers, though, still have a shot to claim at least a share of the EYL title.
The Panthers were already without Matlyn Morris, who was out for the season. But PHS was also without Mikayla Scheer, who’s out indefinitely with a knee injury as well. But led by Marnie Kavern, PHS did everything it could to make up for the loss of Morris and Scheer before falling short.
Porterville High’s boys also lost 109-67 to Tulare Union, but the one highlight was Kyle Grissom continuing to lower his school record in the 100-yard butterfly as he won in 55.68 seconds, beating his previous mark of 56.17.
“We gave it a good try,” Porterville coach Richard Taylor said. “The kids swam well. They just outswam us. I can’t be upset with any swim. They just had more power than us.”
Taylor said Kavern “had the meet of her life.” She began by making up two body lengths in helping PHS win the 200 medley relay as she teamed with Savannah Marquez, Tori Cox and Kassidy Lane to win the event. Kavern then dropped five seconds in winning the 200 individual medley in 2:26. She then won the 100 butterfly in 1:05 and concluded with a personal best 57 seconds in her leg to make up two body lengths to team with Brooke Day, Mikayla Belangue and Marquez to win the 400 free relay.
Other highlights for PHS included Sydney Knight winning the 50 free and coming in second in the 100 backstroke in finishing in 1:10. PHS went 1-2 in the 100 back as Marquez won the event and Marquez also took second in the 100 free in an outstanding time of about 1:00. Also for PHS, Belangue dropped six seconds in taking second in the 500 free and took second in the 200 free and Anna Moore dropped five seconds in taking second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:18.
MONACHE SWEEPS
Monache’s boys and girls swept to wins against Mission Oak. Among the highlights for Monache’s girls were Elizabeth Jacobs, Shannon Kaye and Bailey Likewise all posting excellent times in finishing 1-2-3 in the 500 free. Jacobs won in 5:45, Kaye had a two-second time drop in taking second in 5:57 and Bailey Likewise had a three-second time drop in placing third in 6:03.
Among the highlights for Monache’s boys was Caleb Parnell finishing in 1:05 in the 100 backstroke and Geoff Camarena turning in a strong swim in the 50 free.
BOYS TENNIS
STRATHMORE 8, LINDSAY 1
The match was actually more competitive than the score as several matches went down to the wire. “It was a pretty close 8-1,” Strathmore coach Derik Knutson said. In singles, Strathmore’s Austin Della won 8-1, Strathmore’s Sakthi Serelathan beat Lindsay’s Josue Magana 8-6, Strathmore’s Justin Reyes beat Lindsay’s Angel Rusiles 8-6 and Strathmore’s Hector Gonzalez defeated Lindsay’s Nestor Varela 8-7 (7-3). In the other singles match, Lindsay’s Tony Mendez overcame a 2-7 deficit to force a tiebreaker against Strathmore’s Oscar Arroyo before Arroyo won 8-7 (7-5).
In doubles, Della and Gonzalez won 8-3, Serlathan and Reyes won 8-1 and Lindsay’s Jaime Frias and Leng Yang beat Starthmore’s Doug Murdock and Amar Ilyas 8-7 (7-4). Strathmore is now 4-0, 2-0 in the East Sequoia League
On Thursday, Lindsay lost to Corcoran 8-1. Nestor Varela won 8-7 (7-5) in singles for the Cardinals.
BOYS GOLF
MONACHE 212, DELANO 256
Monache had five players shoot 45 or lower in improving to 5-0 in the EYL on Thursday in Delano. Brandon Swearingen didn’t play for Monache as he was resting a sore knee. For Monache, Austin Margosian shot a 39, Anthony Hernandez fired a 40, Austin Badders had a 43, T.J. Nichols and Ryan Tristao each had a 45 and Brendon Ince added a 57.
“It was a good day,” Monache coach Chris Likewise said. “We need to be more consistent from top to bottom. If we keep progressing like we have I really like our chances in league.”
WOODLAKE 242, LINDSAY 281
Defending East Sequoia League champion Woodlake fired an excellent score to beat Lindsay on Thursday at River Island. Lindsay’s Mike Carranza did tie for low medalist honors, firing a 46 to beat Woodlake’s Ryder Rochin, who shot a 47, in the match between the two teams’ No. 1 golfers. But all of Woodlake’s players shot 51 or lower as Tim Diaz fired a 46, Matt Hirni shot a 48, Shawn Fox had a 50 and Foster Herast added a 51.
For Lindsay, Dakota Ryan shot a 52, Devon Valdez and Johnny Rey Salazar each fired a 60 and Emilio Padilla fired a 62.
