Record Setting Season for Lady Baron Swimmers
By Rachel McMillen, Sports E
ditor
For the past three years, the Lady Baron swimmers have stunned the crowd with their performance. However the girls especially surpassed everyone\’s expectations this season, setting one CIF Division I record, five new school records, two CIF Masters Meet records, and placing third overall at the CIF Division I finals.
At the CIF finals on Friday, May 15, the team took home three gold medals, one silver medal, one bronze medal, a 12th place, a 13th place, and a 15th place. Standout performances came from twin juniors Cynthia and Danica Fascella, junior Alex Huynen, sophomore Shelby Webber, and junior Erika Lucas.
Cynthia Fascella alone earned two of Fountain Valley\’s gold medals that night. She captured both the 50 free, in a swift 23.04, and the 100 free, with a time of 50.21. Even more impressive though was these weren\’t even her best times this year. She broke her 50 record at CIF prelims with an eye-popping 22.94 and set her 100 free record at the CIF Masters Meet in an unimaginable 49.89, becoming only the second girl in county to go below 50 seconds in that event. This time and her time in the 50 at the masters meet earned her both CIF Masters Meet records. She also lent her speed to two of the record-setting relays at CIF finals.
Huynen and Webber also had individual swims at CIF finals at Mt. San Antonio College. Huynen placed 12th in the 100 butterfly, breaking her own school record with a time of 57.76 seconds. She also placed 15th in the 100 backstroke in 59.51 seconds. Webber took second in the 100 free, right behind teammate Cynthia, in with a time of 51.96.
The highlight of the season, by far, came at the end of the girls 4 by 50 freestyle relay at the CIF finals. Fountain Valley\’s relay, consisting of both Fascella twins, Webber, and Lucas, set the CIF Division I record with a time of 1:34.94. They were able to pull through and finish right in front of CIF champions and rival school Edison. Currently, their time qualifies them second in California and thirteenth in the nation.
Though not quite as exciting as their middle relay, the girls\’ 4 by 100 freestyle relay at the finals also had an outstanding performance. The relay, consisting of both Fascellas, Webber, and Huynen, set another new school record with a time of 3:29.76 and took third place overall.
And while this year proved to be an extremely impressive one, next year looks to be even better for the lady swimmers. All of this year\’s standout CIF swimmers are underclassmen and will be returning for another season as Lady Barons. The team also looks to add exceptional freshman Jamie Dang to their depth. And since all of the girls will only be getting faster, rumor has it their spectacular 4 by 50 relay could be going after a national record next year.
