A balanced team of depth carries the Northwood Timberwolves in a winning formula against Pacific Coast League high schools at the 2020 Irvine City Relay Championships. Photo via Swim Staff.
When the lights are brightest, only the very best manage to pull through and show they are the real deal. The Northwood Timberwolves swim team seem to be picking up right where they left off last season, as a team determined to continue their prowess in the Pacific Coast League.
The seemingly annual Irvine City Relay Championships is a bout unlike any other. Most of the events are unusual distances not featured during regular season. Despite this unique circumstance, Northwood's boys managed to defend their title in three-peat fashion on Friday February 28, 2020 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center.
Arguably the most impressive aspect of this performance by Northwood was securing eighteen top-3 placements from both genders at combined levels against some of the best high school swim teams in Southern California says a lot about the Timberwolves depth and team chemistry.
The intensity reached its peak during the 400 Fly Boys Relay which marked the largest margin of points towards the eventual title win. Northwood's boys scored 336 points, followed by Woodbridge with 303, University 278, Beckman 249, Portola 233, and Irvine completing the finishing order with 218.
On the girl's side, Woodbridge captured the title with 352 points. Northwood came home second at 273, University 271, Irvine 247, followed by Portola with 232, and Beckman rounding out the scoring with 187.
“I think it's more or less that we're looking at this venue as an opportunity to race some fast swimmers in our league. We came together as a team much better tonight, which sets us up really well for the rest of the season," said Head Coach Alex Nieto. "It's great to be in an environment that will have high intensity and that will be helpful for our championship meet and CIF."
So while this venue is not a direct predictor of which high school will finish higher come the Pacific Cost League Championships this season, it has had around an 80% successful predicting rate over the past decade. Stay tuned.....
Up next the Timberwolves face off against Fountain Valley & Long Beach High Schools in a triangular March 3rd at the Northwood High School Aquatic Center (3:15 pm), and will follow that up with an appearance at the Capo Valley Relay Invite March 5th - 7th Capo Valley High School (3:15 pm).
400 Medley Relay
Northwood Varsity boys put up some very fast times, quite comparable to the ones they did last year, and came away with a second place (3:53.78) with Danny Kim (59.14), Yagiz Guner (58.40), Kevin Hong (58.37), and Rijad Ceranic (57.87). Portola touched first in the event in 3:52.48, and Woodbridge rounding third in 3:55.77.
300 Free Relay
Northwood JV Girls hit the wall second with a 3:02.34 from Daniella Ela (29.17), Caitlin Novak (31.68), Yuna Cook (30.11), Sima Yildiz (28.76), Kacy Kesler (28.76), and anchor Lilly Zhao (30.61). Irvine finished first (2:58.73) with Woodbridge touching in for third with a 3:03.47. On the JV Boys side, the Timberwolves were able to put together a first place showing in 2:30.49 with their team of Andy Kim (26.14), Ryan Xu (25.21), Nolan Kim (24.69), Oliver Child (25.65), Aaron Kim (24.58), and propelling to a 24.22 anchor Andrew Zhang. Woodbridge finished second in 2:31.36 with Portola in second (2:34.79). The Northwood Varsity Boy race proved to be an exciting splash-and-dash, with Alec Overbaugh (23.99), Nicholas Miceli (23.67), Henry Chen (22.88), Ben Liu (22.56), Enoch Lai (22.28), and anchor Kenneth Duong (22.11) combining for the winning finish of 2:17.49. Portola swam to a second in 2:17.69, while University followed in 2:17.81.
200 Breast Relay
In the 200 breast relay, Northwood's Kylie Kenyon lead off the JV Girls, powering the team to a 39.39 flat start leg with members Anita Lamai (39.88), Sima Yidiz (45.62), and Ella-Blue Wilmot (35.80) closing out the relay in 2:39.69 for third. Portola's JV pulled in first with 2:32.80, while Woodbridge finished second in 2:36.12. The Northwood JV Boys managed to finish second with the team of Andrew Zhang (33.13), Kim Nolan (32.92), William Chen (31.66), and anchor Xuchao Li (31.74) combining a 2:09.45. Woodbridge finished first (2:08.68) with Portola third (2:13.95).
400 Breast Relay
Henry Chen, Northwood Junior, wasted no time in this race, getting out in 1:03.36. Teammate Grant Lai clocked a 1:04.45, Kenneth Duong (1:05.19) with Ben Liu coming hard with a 59.86 to bring in the top spot for Northwood in 4:12.86. University grabbed second with 4:21.17, and Woodbridge rounded third in 4:22.20.
200 Fly Relay
In the 200 fly relay, Northwood JV Girls took second out of lane three, touching in 2:08.55 with the foursome of Daniella Ela (31.49), Caitlin Novak (33.22), Ella-Blue Wilmot (32.73) and Kacy Kesler (31.11). Woodbridge won the event in 2:06.85 with Portola third in 2:14.39. Northwood's JV Boys took top honors in winning the 200 fly thanks in large part to the efforts of Ryan Xu (26.99), Michael Li (27.32), William Chen (27.80), and anchor Oliver Zeng (28.11). Woodbridge turned second in 1:51.41 with Beckman touching in for third in 1:51.78.
400 Fly Relay
Northwood's Varsity Girls were locked in a very tight race in the 400 Fly relay as Ainsley Zapata split a 1:36.04, Kim Huynh (1:06.25), Addison Cadena (1:08.15), and anchor Helena Zhou (n/a) put up a combined 4:23.93 for third. First place went to Woodbridge with 4:17.30, while Irvine turned in second (4:19.27). The Varsity Northwood Boys led early in the 400 Fly, getting a 57.13 from Rijad Ceranic, and Alec Overbaugh (58.50), but the Timberwolves vaulted their team into the lead on the third leg with Yagiz Guner (57.82) and Enoch Lai anchoring a field-best 55.98 to seal the win of 3:49.43. Irvine touched in at 3:50.39 for second, while University rounded out the top three in 3:50.90.
200 Back Relay
The JV Girls delivered a second place showing of 2:18.61 for Northwood. Lilly Zhao started off with a 36.47 split followed by Sima Yildiz who joined forces on a 34.79. Henna Cook clocked a 34.65 with anchor Claire Cho stretching to the wall for a split of 32.70. Portola took first in 2:14.32 with Woiodbridge stopping the clock at 2:22.98 in claiming third. Northwood's JV boys went second in the event, with Oliver Child (n/a), Brandon Cho (n/a), Andy Kim in at 3rd (29.76), and anchor Aaron Kim (31.60) combing for second place in 1:59.26. University raced to first in 1:54.16, while Portola hit the wall in 2:01.10.
400 Back Relay
The Varsity Northwood Boys excelled following up with yet another top-3 placement. The team of Danny Kim (1:04.99), Kendrick Pham (52.21), Yagiz Guner (57.48), and anchor Rijad Ceranic (1:00.23) stopped the clock in 3:54.91. University won the event in 3:50.48, while Woodbridge touch in for second in 3:51.78.
400 Free Relay
Northwood's Varsity Boys came together leading off with Nicholas Miceli (52.78), Alec Overbaugh (51.11), Justin Chung (52.12), and anchor Henry Chen (50.22) coming home for third in 1:50.80. Beckman took first in 3.22.02, while University ended second (3:23.77).
200 Medley Relay
End of day competition saw the Northwood JV Girls give the crowd a first in the 200 medley relay with Claire Cho (35.84-back), Kylie Kenyon (37.15-breast), Daniella Ela (30.72-fly), and Olivia Chen (29.78-free) bringing it home in 2:13.49. Portola placed second with 2:17.07, while hard charging Northwood Team-B clocked a 2:22.66 with Yuna Cook (36.86-back), Anita Lamai (39.32-breast), Henna Cook (36.09-fly), and Nicole Karraa (30.39-free). Northwood JV Boys turned in a second place 1:54.98 with Oliver Child (30.39-back), Xuchao Li (32.07-breast), Ryan Xu (26.96-fly), and anchoring the free Aaron Kim (25.56). Top time went to University with 1:52.65, and Woodbridge put in third (1:55.55). The Northwood Varsity Boys depth in their roster and leadership this evening has been among their biggest strength and it showed with another first place win with Danny Kim (27.58-back), Ben Liu (26.49-breast), Enoch Lai (24.96-fly) and Kenneth Duong (22.45-free). Woodbridge finished second (1:45.13) with University touching in for third with a 1:45.48.
Irvine City Relay Championships-Meet Combined Scores
Boys
Northwood High School 336
Woodbridge High School 303
University High School 278
Beckman High School 249
Portola High School 233
Irvine High School 218
Girls
Woodbridge High School 352
Northwood High School 273
Irvine High School 271
University High School 247
Portola High School 232
Beckman High School 187