Northwood's Hunter Hitchens (left) and Gabe Munoz (right) have been selected by the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) as All-Americans for individual events. Award plaques presented by NHS Head Coach Alex Nieto. Photos courtesy of CoolPoolPix.
The Northwood High School boys swim strength in the 2016 season was reflected in the All-American honors doled out this week by the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches Association (NISCA) who released their list of the 2015-2016 All-American rankings, highlighting some of the best swimming talents in high schools across America.
A total of two individual performances and two team relays from Northwood High School swimmers landed on NISCA's annual list. Of the roughly 343,000 high school students involved in aquatic sports nationwide, merely 2% achieve All American status.
To be eligible, a high school swimmer must finish in the top 100 times achieved in the country on an event or relay which includes all high schools, both public and private. To be considered for All-American selection, swimmers must qualify with a time standard, and then an application must be submitted to NISCA on their website. 
See the full 2015-2016 Girls & Boys All-America lists here
Among the boys All-American list released by the national organization, Northwood's sophomore Hunter Hitchens received the distinction individually in the 200 yard freestyle, and was also part of Northwood's two All-American freestyle relay teams.
Hitchens submitted time of 1:39.84, earned him a Top-100 87th rank on the NISCA / Speedo All-American list in the 200 freestyle. Notably, only eleven other sophomores in the country were ranked with a faster time. That time was achieved at the Southern Section CIF Division I Championships meet on May 14, 2016 at the Riverside City College that placed him fifth in finals, and cleared the school record time of 1:40.87 set in 2006.
“Hunter is a fierce competitor, and armed with an incredible work ethic that I believe has translated to his success," Head Coach Alex Nieto.
Individually, Gabe Munoz - Northwood sophomore - earned his All-American distinction in the 200 IM with the time of 1:50.85 recorded at the Pacific Coast League Championships meet on May 6, 2016 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center. It was definitely a highlight swim that helped Northwood to the Pacific Coast League title, and a finish that put him 75th among the All-American performers.
The 200 IM has always been a marquee event for Munoz who breached the 1:51 barrier, and was just 0.57 hundreds off the school record.
He also contributed as a member of Northwood's 400 freestyle relay team to All-American status this season.
“Gabe is ultra-competitive and driven to be one of the best swimmers on our team. He sets the bar high for himself, and willing to work to improve," Head Coach Alex Nieto.
Northwood's Six All-Americans for 200 Free and 400 Free relays. (Left to right) Hwa Min Sim (10); Mack Nesbit (11); Cameron Hsieh (12); Hunter Hitchens (10); Gabe Munoz (10); and Nick Thorson (12). Award certificates presented by NHS Head Swim Coach Alex Nieto.
Northwood had a fantastic season in the freestyle relay events with two teams that played a big role in helping the Northwood High School boys win the Pacific Coast League Championship this season, and landed on the National Interscholastic Swim Coaches All-American list as well.
As part of Northwood's best high school swimming performance in the 400 yard freestyle relay, the team of Mack Nesbit (11), Gabe Munoz (10), Cameron Hsieh (12), and anchor Hunter Hitchens (10) clocked a 3:05.72 placing them 38th among the 100 teams from across the country that made it onto the NISCA All-American list, taking down the school record, and netting a new Pacific Coast League Championship meet record.
Northwood also combined with a 200 yard freestyle relay team that finished 93rd of the 100 teams in the nation with a submitted time of 1:25.82. The team of Nick Thorson (12), Hwa Min Sim (10), Cameron Hsieh (12), and anchor Hunter Hitchens (10) produced another school record win for the Timberwolves at the Pacific Coast Championship during May, 2016 at the William Woollett Jr. Aquatic Center.
“It just shows that all of the hard work these boys put in has been paying off," said Head Coach Alex Nieto. "It's a great honor and I'm really proud.”