Gilroy
– Winning two events and swimming on a victorious relay team was
great for Daniel Shields. But he’s got bigger fish to fry. That’s
not to say that he takes lightly winning events against San Benito
swimmers.
Gilroy – Winning two events and swimming on a victorious relay team was great for Daniel Shields.
But he’s got bigger fish to fry. That’s not to say that he takes lightly winning events against San Benito swimmers.
It’s just that the Gilroy junior would like to qualify for the Central Coast Section meet May 19, and he’s not that far away from doing so individually or as a team.
Shields, who won the 50 freestyle in 23.56 and 100 freestyle in 53.33, is just more than a half-second away from qualifying in the former and 2 1/2 seconds away in the latter. Plus, the 200 medley relay team in which he swam the lead leg in the backstroke, is one-half second from qualifying. The Mustangs’ winning time Friday was 1:50.35.
Despite the efforts of Shields, Eddie Malick and David Pribyl, senior-laden San Benito was just too strong for Gilroy, remaining unbeaten in the Tri-County Athletic League with a 116-54 win.
“That’s as well as anyone has swam against us in league,” Haybalers’ coach Leif Nordstrom said. “They have some good swimmers.”
The Gilroy girls also have some talent but there is little depth available. Thus, San Benito was able to gain a 131-45 win.
“Our guys are doing better than I thought they would,” said GHS coach Tom Clark, whose overall roster includes just three seniors — two boys and one girl. “We just don’t have much depth with the girls.”
Under a hot sun Friday, the Gilroy pool was a popular place for swimmers and other athletes who wondered in after practice. Shields enjoyed swimming against friends and competitors forged through years of the Gators and San Benito Aquatic Club meeting at events.
“It’s always a friendly competitive thing,” Shields said. “I’ve been swimming against (David) Smith and (Blaine) Curtice for six, seven years.
“I think I can do better. It’s been hard for me so far because I’ve been trying to keep up with tough classes. There are a bunch of us who want to get to CCS, so our next meet at Alisal (May 4) will be key.”
Malick posted seconds in both the 200 individual medley (2:14.21) and 500 freestyle (5:22.90).
Pribyl, one of two Mustangs who have qualified for CCS in the 100 butterfly, was third in that event in 57.85. The sophomore was also second in the 100 breaststroke in 1:07.11, which is 1.22 seconds away from the CCS qualifying mark. He missed beating Steven Shattuck by .13 of a second.
Among the Gilroy girls, Melissa Davis finished second in the 200 IM (2:36.06) and 500 freestyle (6:02.52). Freshman Bella Comin was second in the 100 freestyle in 1:01.23. And Megan Collett, who is trying to get back in the swing of things after missing 12 days on a Japan tour with the GHS Chamber Choir, was second in the 100 backstroke in 1:09.68 and in the 100 butterfly in 1:04.50.
That was less than a half-second below her best butterfly time that qualified her for CCS, but Collett wasn’t complaining.
“The last meet I did 1:07,” Collett said. “I missed a lot of double practices. I’m happy that I’m back to 1:04 and think I can do better.”
