Her passion is in the pool 

Ariana Peschke

When Ariana Peschke was 6 months old, her father placed her in a pool. She floated on her back.

At 7 years old, she won her first race, the 25-yard backstroke.

And at 10, Peschke qualified for the Junior Olympics in the 100 backstroke.

"So, I guess I've always been a backstroker," the La Reina High sophomore said.

Indeed, the standout swimmer's specialty is the 100 backstroke, where she owns a school record, completing the race in 58.27 seconds.

Peschke also has completed the 100 freestyle in 52.87 seconds.

Peschke, 15, hopes she peaks by the CIFSouthern Section Division II preliminaries at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach Fri., May 15 at 10 a.m.

The Regents will compete in the Tri-Valley League finals today at Malibu High.

"I haven't got my best times, but I'm pretty close," Peschke said at a Club Aquatics practice Monday. "I know that by CIF I can beat my best times."

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers OFF TO THE RACES—Ariana Peschke and her La Reina teammates will compete in today's Tri-Valley League finals at Malibu.

Peschke's biggest contribution this year may be her work out of the pool, said second-year coach Briana Quinn.

The coach said the sophomore swimmer has been more involved in cheering on and advising less experienced teammates.

"She's grown up a lot in the last year," said Quinn, who has coached for nine years overall, including a stint as an assistant at Arizona State.

"She came back motivated, and she wanted to motivate the whole team," the coach said. "She's really stepped up. . . . She has the ability to step up and share her knowledge with less experienced swimmers. Our mantra at La Reina is 'Step up,' and she's done that."

Under Quinn, the team has expanded from 16 to 40 swimmers in one year. La Reina is now more competitive in team meets and entered this week in second place in the Tri-Valley League, behind Oaks Christian.

Peschke said she doesn't want to be the only athlete representing La Reina in the CIF preliminaries.

For someone who swims all year, Peschke looks forward to the high school season.

"I get to share my love of swimming with people who haven't swum before," the sophomore said. "High school swimming makes me love swimming more. There's no drama whatsoever. High school really rejuvenates me. Club is more about the individual, and high school is about the team.

"It's not about how you do. It's more about how your team does," she said.

Peschke swims anchor on the 400 free relay, where she's joined by Devon Ho, Elizabeth Butke and Amy Tobias.

In addition, the sophomore swims the backstroke in the 200 medley relay with Alex Kiefer (breaststroke), Tobias (butterfly) and Ho (freestyle).

Peschke, who also completed the 50 freestyle in a CIFqualifying time of 24.79 seconds, participated in a fourday Diversity Select Camp in Colorado Springs, Colo., two weeks ago. Sponsored by USA Swimming, only 30 teenage swimmers were invited.

At the select camp, Peschke talked with Olympic swimmers Ryan Lochte and Elizabeth Beisel.

She also practiced for four hours each day in the thin Rocky Mountain air.

"As soon as I got out of the airplane, I got dizzy," Peschke said. "I had to drink five bottles of water not to have a headache."

Quinn has known Peschke since the swimmer was 11 and has enjoyed coaching her the past two seasons at La Reina.

"She's one of those swimmers that make me want to continue coaching," Quinn said. "It's been a blast."

The only child of Ray and Stephanie Peschke, the sophomore enjoys surfing, hanging out with friends, spending time at the beach and learning about film.

Peschke wants to start a film club at La Reina next year.

But she feels most comfortable in the pool.

"I love the water," she said, before adding with a laugh, "and this is pretty much the only sport I'm good at."