The Palo Alto girls’ swim team (9-0) crushed visiting Homestead High School, 125-60, in the final league meet of the season on Friday.
Undefeated in dual meet action this year, the Vikings only lost three events, with strong scoring performances through all events. With individual victories from sophomore Sarah Liang and freshmen Jasmine Tosky, Margaret Wenzlau, and Abby Duckett, Palo Alto exhibited the youth, talent and depth that makes it a Central Coast Section title contender.
Paly did not replicate the blazing times set at its impressive triumph last weekend as the Vikings placed in the top three of every event and swept the 200-yard individual medley and 400-yard freestyle relay on their way to an easy win.
Starting off the meet, sophomore Paige Devine, Liang, Wenzlau, and Tosky took the 200-yard medley relay with a fast time of 1 minute 53.66 seconds.
Palo Alto swimmers also dominated the 200 IM as Homestead fielded only two swimmers, one of whom was disqualified. Liang placed first with a CCS time of 2:16.36, followed by sophomore Sabrina Lee, who clocked in at 2:19.57, also qualifying for CCS, and freshman Laura Cui at 2:24:98. Liang also won the 100-yard breastroke with a time of 1:07.09.
Tosky won the 50-yard freestyle with a speedy 23.87 and took the 100-yard freestyle in 52.27, both times that would have placed her in the top eight at CCS championships last year.
In the 100-yard butterfly, Wenzlau won a duel, finishing less than a second ahead of her Homestead opponent with a time of 59.76, the only swimmer to break a minute.
Paly finished one-two in the marathon 500-yard freestyle with Duckett claiming first in 5:21.45 and freshman Rachelle Holmgren coming in second at 5:29.58.
Sweeping the final event of the day, the 400-yard freestyle relay, the Viking’s leading squad of Lee, Liang, Duckett and Tosky timed in 3:45.12, more than 25 seconds ahead of the closest Homestead team.
As the seniors raced for the second to last time in the Paly pool, the Viking youth powered the defeat over Homestead as every single winning relay or event was comprised of underclassmen.
Paly said goodbye to its seniors in a mid-meet tribute, congratulating Allie Bollela, Tara Murao, Liza Dernhel, Maddie Hoffacker and Ally Whitson for their accomplishments over the years.
Murao was disappointed to see her swimming career come to a close.
“It is sad,” Murao said. “I will miss swimming a lot, it is a great thing to be part of. But it also means that pretty soon I will never have to go to swim practice again.”
This will not be the seniors’ last meet at Paly, as they return in two weeks for the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League Championships.
Head coach Danny Dye was pleased with the day’s performances and expects stellar results at leagues.
“We had a hard week of training,” Dye said. “I was very happy with the swims. I expect the girls to keep swimming strong going into leagues and defend their undefeated record.”
If the Vikings want to continue their streak of seven consecutive league championships, Dye said they will have to stick to their rigorous training and utilize not only the stars on their team, but the depth and versatility of the roster as well.
Palo Alto will host the SCVAL championships with the girls’ preliminary competition beginning May 6 at 2 p.m. and combined finals on May 8 at 2 p.m.