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Warrior swimmers turn their attention toward league finals
The Warriors girls' team currently sits atop the league standings with a record of 5-0, while the boys' squad is 4-1, trailing only Thousand Oaks. With only two swim meets left before league finals, Westlake head coach Todd Irmas is hoping the best is yet to come. "It's very hard in swimming to peak more than once," Irmas said. "I don't want my swimmers to peak until the last match of the year at CIF." Improving in the pool may be extremely difficult for junior Aislinn Smalling, who recently broke a 23-year-old school record in the 200 freestyle with a time of one minute, 50 seconds. "It was at Thousand Oaks and I was racing Camille Duckett," Smalling said. "We were both racing fast, and after I hit the wall I looked up and saw the score and that I had won. I didn't know I had the record until a few moments later when Coach Irmas told me. I was really excited when I learned I broke it." Even though Smalling has enjoyed a great career at Westlake, Irmas believes she can still improve, even if the strides aren't as big. "She is an All-American in the 500 and 200, and she is a nice luxury to have on this team," Irmas said. "For her, progress is literally tenths of a second. Since she has broken some records, she's now racing against the clock, but thankfully this league is very tough, and that competition brings out the best in Aislinn. She just thrives on competition." Other girls that have contributed to the Warriors' success include Jackie Brousseau and Alyse Brehm. Brehm's specialty is the 100 fly, while Brosseau competes in the 200 IM, 50 free and 100 breast stroke. Although Irmas said the girls' core unit is the same as it was in 2006, some freshmen such as Nora Darago, Iris Yan and Smalling's younger sister Cayley have also helped. While the girls' squad is perfect in 2007, the boys' team is in second place to Thousand Oaks. Westlake has one remaining league meet against Agoura and another non-league meet in Clovis before league finals. "Thousand Oaks is a game up on us and will probably be the dual-meet champion, but we are hoping we can still be the league final champion," Irmas said. "We are not out of the hunt yet for the dual-meet championship, but first we have to take care of Agoura, who will be tough to beat." Westlake's top swimmer on the boys' side is senior Kevin Critchlow. Critchlow's best events are the 200 free and the 500 free, but he also swims the 200 IM and the 100 fly. "Kevin is by far the most versatile swimmer I have ever coached," Irmas said. "No matter where we put him he could challenge for or win first place. I'm not sure what he will swim in once league finals and CIF come, but I know that he's at least a top16 CIF swimmer. Although he will tell you he's trying to be in the top eight." Other swimmers that have helped the Warriors have been junior Brent McCunney and senior Matt Kerchner, who especially wants to win league in his senior season at WHS. "This year I'm really trying to push it since this is my last year and since I kind of messed up last season at CIF," Kerchner said. "I'm close to breaking a record in the 50 freestyle. I had a time of 22 seconds flat, and I need to get 21.08. Hopefully I can break that record in one of these last couple matches." Irmas said returnees such as Brandon O' Kelley, Austin Baker and Ben Markowitz have stepped up this season. Newcomers like freshman Sam Chen and sophomore JK Loring have given Irmas hope that the Warriors will continue to be competitive in years to come. "I really looking forward to the league finals and CIF this year," Irmas said. "For the girls, we are trying to finish in the top five in the CIF, while the boys' main goal is to reclaim the league title. It should be tough, but hopefully we can attain those goals." |
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