Defending champions Northwood High School boys showed dominance once again defeating area IUSD high schools Beckman, Corona del Mar, Irvine, University and Woodbridge to lift the plaque and banner at the 2017 Pacific Coast League Championships.  Photo courtesy of Mitch Mallough.

Under the bright Friday night lights, the Beckman High School Aquatic Center played host to this year's Pacific Coast League Championship finals featured on Friday, May 6, 2017.  There were plenty of clear eyes and full hearts on the pool deck as lightning struck twice for the Northwood Timberwolves boys with a second consecutive Pacific Coast League Championship title!!

The capacity packed crowd roared cheers of excitement that echoed for every event as Northwood Timberwolves boys swim team put on a masterful performance in winning the title.  The swim meet was certainly one for Northwood's record books as the Timberwolves set 6 new school records, and a Pacific Coast League relay record as the three day prelims-finals meet showcased astounding high school swimming in the CIF SS Division 1 juggernaut Pacific Coast League.

Most events featured not just one strong Northwood swim, but several.  The Timberwolves won titles in six of eleven events, and garnered a top-three finish sixteen times. Northwood outlasted second-place rival University by a wide margin, 559-486.  The best measure of Northwood's depth came in on the 50 and 100 freestyles where the Timberwolves placed all four swimmers in the top eight.  Out of the 2,013 possible points in the meet, Northwood's boys took a whopping 27.77%.

Northwood wins in the boys relays showcased the squad's stamina and depth.  The Timberwolves began and ended the night with titles in 2 of 3  relay victories, taking the 200 free relay to a new school record (1:25.79) and 400 free relay to close out the meet with a new Pacific Coast League record (3:04.82).

Northwood's Hunter Hitchens turned in one of his two best individual title performances winning the sprint 50 freestyle with a personal best time of 20.88, and setting a new school record.  The junior broke another school record in the 500 freestyle with a top time of 4:33.60.  Hitchens also anchored the record breaking 200 and 400 free relay teams with quick legs of (21.10) and (45.91).  Hitchens earned Male Swimmer of the Meet honors after some incredible performances that resulted in putting up the most total rankings points on the male side.

Junior Shawn Lou made his presence known in the first individual event contributing a title in the 200 freestyle with a 1:39.21 personal best time taking down the Northwood school record of 1:39.69.  Lou would additionally take part in the 200 and 400 record breaking teams leading legs (21.25) and (46.52).

Timberwolves Gabe Munoz followed suit winning his individual in the 200 IM (1:49.86), which improved the school record by almost a half second faster set in 2014 (1:50.28).  Munoz was also part of the winning 200 medley team (back-23.43), and 400 free relay team third leg (45.29).

Though the Northwood Lady T-Wolves did not win any titles, the squad stayed firmly in runner-up second place position throughout the meet.  Northwood's girls finished overall in a very respectable second place against the defending PCL Champion Woodbridge Warrior girls.  The Lady T-Wolves scored with eight of eleven events notching top-three placements, and sixteen times in the top-eight.  Ultimately, the meet ended with Northwood's girls earning 414 points to the Lady Warriors 487.

Although the final score for the girls wasn't very close, it didn't reflect the incredible depth, speed, talent and strength that athletes on the Northwood girls roster exhibited over the course of the meet.  In placing a cherry on the top of their team's outstanding night the squad of Amanda Hsieh, Josephine Manuel, Olivia Chen, and Julia Gonik combined for a 3:34.38 in the 400 free relay taking down the previous school record of 3:34.63 set in 2004, closing the books on perhaps the most remarkable Pacific Coast League Championships meet to date.

Let's hope the Northwood Timberwolves save their best for the post-season at CIF next week.  This will be the time to turn it up, lights on, giddy up, and let's go T-Wolves!!

“The experience of the boys going through and winning a league championship back-to-back adds a tremendous amount of value and knowledge to their next pursuit of going after a CIF title," Northwood Head Coach Alex Nieto said. "And that, so many times, is undervalued -- knowing how to win, how to close that meet out, how to finish those days of racing prelims and finals is extremely, extremely valuable.  And they have that experience under their belt going into next week."

Boys Team Scores:                           Girls Team Scores:

1. Northwood 559                                                           1. Woodbridge 487
2. University 486                                                            2. Northwood 414
3. Corona del Mar 344.5                                                  3. Irvine 376
4. Irvine 332                                                                   4. Corona del Mar 256
5. Beckman 157.5                                                           5. University 241
6. Woodbridge 134                                                           6. Beckman 240

Additional TOP 16 Event Winners:

Relay Events Winners:

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