Thousand Oaks swimmers ready to challenge for a league title
Westlake expected to be top competition for TOHS
By Stephen Dorman sdorman@theacorn.com

Hank Yan

The Thousand Oaks High swim teams are looking to reclaim a pair of Marmonte League titles.

League champions in both girls' and boys' swimming during the 2004 and 2005 seasons, the Lancers were swept by Westlake a year ago.

Westlake graduated several key swimmers from each of its teams, but according to TOHS head coach Mike Giles, the Warriors remain the favorite in the Marmonte.

Newbury Park should be very good, too, Giles said. The Panther boys recently defeated Royal for the first time in many years. Despite the early setback, Royal is also expected to contend for both league titles. Calabasas' teams have quality swimmers as well.

Giles said it'll take an entire team effort for the Lancers to overcome so many talented foes week in and week out.

"We've got to train well with the high school kids," Giles said. "I believe we can certainly win races with our club swimmers- God bless them for all their hard training. We wouldn't have a chance at a league title without them. . . .

"But it's going to take the high school swimmers- the ones that train with us here at the high school on a season-long basis, like the (water) polo players who cross over- to really win a championship."

Photos by BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers UP FOR AIR- Thousand Oaks' Lauren Barnett, above, competes against Moorpark in the 100-yard girls' freestyle race last Friday afternoon, while senior Hank Yan, above left, swims the boys' 100.

Thousand Oaks' club swimmers generally compete for local organizations such as Conejo Simi Aquatics or Oaks Christian-based CLASS, the coach said.

The Lancer girls' team is led by senior Stephanie Pierson and juniors Camille Duckett and Alexandra Henley.

Pierson's top events include the 200 and 500 freestyle. Duckett specializes in the 100 backstroke, 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay.

Duckett, a twotime CIFSouthern Section qualifier and a member of Thousand Oaks' CIF titlewinning 200 relay team last year, has set some lofty goals for her third season on the varsity squad.

"This year I want to get my best time ever in the 200 free," Duckett said. "I want to finish at 1:51 or even 1:50." Duckett finished the 200 in first place with a time of 1:54:59 in the Lancers' first dual meet last Friday against Moorpark.

Henley was also a member of the CIF-winning relay team with Duckett in '06. Henley swims the 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 200 IM.

After winning league titles in the 100 breaststroke and 200 IM during her freshman season, Henley finished third in both events last year. She's hoping to reclaim her 200 IM title, but might not compete in the 100 breaststroke. Henley is directing much of her focus toward the 100 backstroke.

"My breaststroke is good, but I think my backstroke can be even better," Henley said.

Sarah Bradshaw, Kathryn Irwin, Emily Arndt, Lauren Seybold, Whitney Delgado, Lauren Barnett, Dusty Holmes and Jessica Lacson will also contribute for the TOHS girls' team.

On the boys' side, Thousand Oaks' top swimmers are senior Hank Yan and junior Brendan Donohue.

Yan, a fourtime league champion who will swim for Harvard University and major in physics during the fall, finished third in the 100 freestyle at last year's CIFSS championships. He's currently competing in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle, as well as the 100 butterfly.

If things go just right for Yan this year, he believes he can break school records in the 100 and 200 freestyle. Eric Shafer set Thousand Oaks' 100 freestyle record in 1996 with a time of 46.81 seconds. Aron Gyuris' top time of 1:44.14 in 200 freestyle was set in 1999.

"I've made some of these times with my club team," Yan said, "but not swimming with the high school."

Yan said the seniors on the team will make the Lancer boys tough to beat. "We've got a really strong senior class, and I think that's going to be a big asset," he said.

Donohue specializes in the 100 backstroke, 200 IM, 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. Giles said Donohue's a very versatile swimmer.

Others who are expected to make an impact for the TOHS boys' squad are Griffin Talan, Matt Irwin, Daniel Smith, Elliott Weideman, Michael Fernandez, Daniel Wolff, Ryan Vick, Nathan Neil, Colin Wheatly and Kyle Johnson.