Titans Swim to Top with 10 League Winners and 8 CIF Qualifiers

Grand Terrace High School's boys and girls swim teams celebrated outstanding accomplishments as they wrapped up their 2015 season. Under the tutelage of head coach Elissa Kirkland, the teams finished in the Sunkist League's top three - the Titan boys placing first in the league and the Titan girls placing second - and eight swimmers are CIF qualifiers. Both the varsity and junior varsity boys teams wrapped up their seasons undefeated overall and in league standings, toting a 9-0 overall status and a 4-0 league standing to come in first place. The varsity girls team nabbed a 6-3 overall score and a 3-1 league standing to come in second place in the league, while the junior varsity girls took home a 7-2 overall score as well as a 3-1 league standing. Ten swimmers from the boys and girls teams were also named league winners in various events: Jonathan Thunquest was named league winner in the 200 freestyle; Isaac Ballesteros in the individual medley; Kaylee Robles in the 100 fly; Ismael Gonzalez in the 500 freestyle and Vanessa Wolanik and Alex Ideishi in the 100 backstroke. Robles, Wolanik, Victoria Hernandez and Milana Hernandez were named winners in the girls' 400 free relay, while Tunquest and Ballesteros were joined by teammates Kyle Ortega and Tanner Cline as winners in the boys' 400 free relay. The following boys and girls swimmers qualified for CIF based on their winning times in their respective events: Robles in the 100 fly at 1:11.92; Wolanik in the 50 free at 28.52; Ideishi, Thunquest, Cline and Logan Odenbaugh in the 200 free relay with their total time of 1:45.73; and Thunquest, Ortega, Ballesteros and Cline with their total time of 3:57.82 in the 400 free relay. Kirkland told the City News, "Our season this year was our best season yet. Even our returners made significant drops in their times. The swimmers were very dedicated and worked hard all season long." She credited their hard work for their accomplishments. "The practices this year were much harder than any before. They got into the pool, worked hard, and continued to work as a team after. This year we focused on team building and it really drove the team to success," said Kirkland. "I am very proud of each and every swimmer on our team. They have shown a great drive and I hope to continue our progress into next season." Though the school just completed its third year, the GTHS swim teams have been carving out a reputation for greatness. In 2014, the teams also took first in the league, for any event, taking first in the 200 freestyle (taken by Robles) and first in the 100 backstroke (taken by Ideishi and Cierra Roy). JoAnn Robles, the mother of GTHS sophomore swimmer Kaylee Robles, who was elected to lead the team next season as one of its captains, explained that the team - a the bulk of which are sophomores and juniors - have been able to make such accomplishments due to the support and encouragement they receive from their coaches, who are, said JoAnn, "very supportive of the swimmers and encourage them to do their best. Juggling swimmers to fill events isn't an easy task - the two boys' relays were juggled until the last day of league finals, which is when they made the qualifying times for CIF." Robles continued, "As a parent, I am very proud of all the accomplishments the swimmers have made this season, including my daughter. I am looking forward to an exciting season next year." Looking toward next season, Kirkland said the focus will be on "growing and continuing our momentum." The team bid farewell this year to six seniors: Wolanik, Victoria Hernandez, Odenbaugh, Jenny Valdez, Janiece Saenz and Patricia Martinez - several were key female swimmers, said Kirkland. The focus will be on building back up the girls team, she said, and with the boys team, continuing to drop times and show improvement. The hope, shared Kirkland, is to move several junior varsity swimmers to the varsity leagues and continue nabbing CIF qualification swims and compete in CIF preliminaries and finals. Kirkland finished, "I would love for our boys to win league for a third year in a row and for our girls to win league for the first year ever." With the possibility of adding two more teams to the league, "this is a hefty goal that the kids need to work hard on," said Kirkland.