The Northwood High School Varsity, JV, and Open boys swim team divisions performed lightning strike title wins at the 2016 Pacific Coast League Championships on Friday, May 6, 2016 in Irvine, Ca. at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center. Depth was a key factor as each Northwood boys division won their respective title earning twelve top-three finishes in nine swimming events (Varsity), nine top-three finishes in eleven events (JV), and eleven top-three finishes in ten events (Open).
The Varsity Timberwolves collectively totaled three individual event titles, and wins in both 200 & 400 Free relays. Several records fell over the course of the meet notably a Pacific Coast League record in the 400 Free relay previously set by the CDM Sea Kings in 2013. And while Northwood's first league crown was exciting enough, the win also involved breaking an astonishing five school records (one on the girls side).
"After our win on Friday, we were able to recognize that what we did was special and the result of a lot of hard work for all the athletes from the Open group up to the Varsity group, and how much we were able to come together as a team," said Head Coach Alex Nieto. "But now we turn our focus to the next task at hand with CIF and State Championships coming up in the next two weeks."
"Everyone did their job, and in the end it was enough to get the win," Northwood's Hunter Hitchens said. "And I'm just honored to have been a part of it."
PSYCH SHEETS
Video Recap Highlights:
- 400 Free Relay - 1st Place; 3:05.72); Mack Nesbit (Jr.) (47.45), Gabe Munoz (46.06), Cameron Hsieh(46.83) Hunter Hitchens (45.38); Breaks Pacific Coast League Championships record set by CDM Sea Kings 3:06.75 in 2013, and Northwood High School record 3:07.82 in 2015.
- 200 Free Relay - 1st Place; 1:25.82; Nick Thorson (Sr.) (22.33), Hwa Min Sim (Soph) (21.56), Cameron Hsieh (21.19), Hunter Hitchens (Soph) (20.74); Breaks Northwood High School record 1:27.57 in 2015.
- 200 Free - 1st Place; Hunter Hitchens (Soph) 1:40.47; Breaks Northwood High School record set by Lugar Choi 1:40.87 in 2006, 5th Place Mack Nesbit (Jr.) 1:43.03, 10th Place Shayan Shaikh (Sr.) 1:46.84
- 200 IM - 1st Place; Gabe Munoz (Soph) 1:50.85, 3rd Place Henry Wu (Soph)1:57.64, 9th Place Kevin Chen (Sr.) 2:05.28, 13th Place Daniel Vo (Sr.) 2:08.54
- 50 Free - 2nd Place; Hwa Min Sim (Soph) 21.87
- 100 Free - 1st Place; Hunter Hitchens (Soph) 46.42, 2nd Place Cameron Hsieh (Sr.) 47.47, 8th Place Nick Thorson (Sr.) 48.25
- 500 Free - 2nd Place; Mack Nesbit (Jr) 4:34.71; Breaks Northwood High School record set by Judson Balding 4:35.55 in 2014., 5th Place Shawn Lou (Soph) 4:45.86
- 100 Breast - 3rd Place; Henry Wu (Soph) 58.29, 15th Place Emilano Olaque (Fresh) 5:06.71
- 200 Medley Relay - 2nd Place; 1:36.67; Nick Thorson (Sr.) (24.77), Henry Wu (Soph) (26.77), Gabe Munoz (Soph) (22.60), Cameron Hsieh (Sr.) (21.38) Video Courtesy of CoolPoolPix
400 Free Relay Boys - 3:05.72 - 1st Place - Breaks Pacific Coast League Championships Record & Northwood High School Record
Mack Nesbit (47.45), Gabe Munoz (46.06), Cameron Hsieh (46.83), Hunter Hitchens (45.38)
200 Free Relay Boys - 125.82 Northwood High School Record Broken
Nick Thorson (22.33), Hwa Min Sim (21.56), Cameron Hsieh (21.19), Hunter Hitchens (20.74)
200 Free - 1:40.47 Hunter Hitchens - 1st Place, 1:43.03 Mack Nesbit - 5th Place, 1:46.84 Shayan Shaikh - 10th Place
200 IM - 1:50.85 Gabe Munoz - 1st Place, 1:57.64 Henry Wu - 3rd Place, 2:05.28 Kevin Chen - 9th Place, 2:08.54 Daniel Vo - 13th Place
50 Free - 21.87 Hwa Min Sim - 2nd Place
100 Free - 46.42 Hunter Hitchens - 1st Place, 47.47 Cameron Hsieh - 2nd Place, 48.25 Nick Thorson - 8th Place
500 Free 4:34.71 Mack Nesbit - 2nd Place, 4:45.86 Shawn Lou - 5th Place
100 Breast - 58.29 Henry Wu - 3rd Place, 5:06.71 Emilano Olaque - 15th Place
200 Medley Relay Boys - 1:36.67 - 2nd Place
Nick Thorson (24.77), Henry Wu (26.77), Gabe Munoz (22.60), Cameron Hsieh (21.38)
Pacific Coast League Championship Meet Scores
Boys - Varsity
1. Northwood High School 444.5
2. Corona del Mar High School 414.5
3. University High School 411
4. Irvine High School 332
5. Woodbridge High School 227
6. Beckman High School 185
Boys - JV
1. Northwood High School 454
2. Corona del Mar High School 389
3. University High School 386
4. Irvine High School 365
5. Beckman High School 194
6. Woodbridge High School 174
Boys - Open
1. Northwood High School 420
2. Corona del Mar High School 407
3. University High School 399
4. Irvine High School 246
5. Beckman High School 195
6. Woodbridge High School 178