El Rancho Boys Rally in last 3 events 87-80

AquaDons 87-80 Cardinals

The AquaDons rallied in the last three events to overcome a 12 point deficit and beat the Cardinals 87-80.

The boys kept it close after the first four events, with the score 29-32 during the 5 min break between the 50 Free and 100 Fly. The Cardinals came out punching, scoring 4-12 in the 100 fly but the 100 Free swimmers tried to stem the tide with a 8-8 draw, keeping the deficit to 11. The Dons counter punched with a 12-3 victory in the 500, lead by Jeremy Alonso, Giovanni Eguao, and team captain Eduardo Plata, to bring the score within 2 points (53-55), but the Cardinals went 1-2 in the 200 Free Relay, scoring 12 points to 2, and opening the lead to 12 points with three events remaining. The 100 Backstrokers, lead by David Tarazon, Jay Vera, and Daniel Bautista, went 1-3-4, scoring 11 points to Whittier’s 4, to be followed by 100 Breaststrokers Michael Matchan, Vincent Mejia, and team captain Raphichy Olvera, went 2-3-4 and scored 9-7 to cut Whittier’s lead to 3 points. Both 400 Relay teams were up to the task and left no doubt finishing 1-2, taking the race 12 points to 2, and the overall win 87-80.

El Rancho won 5 events, drew 2, and lost 4. 

8 members of the team improved their season bests: Sam Cordoba & Gio Cabrera (200 Free), Vincent Mejia (200 IM), Castor Villegas (50 Free), Daniel Bautista (100 Fly / 100 Back), Jay Vera (100 Free / 100 Back), and Jeremy Alonso & Gio Eguao (500 Free).

Four-man El Rancho defeat Whittier JV 46-36

The JV Boys took 5 wins, 2 Draws, and 3 Losses in its 46-36 victory over Whittier HS. Ismael Juarez, Fausto Gonzalez, Robert Robles, and Ben Rodriguez chalked up six 1st place swims. Neither team put up a Medley Relay, but the Cardinals wouldn’t step up to the blocks until the fourth event, the 50 Free, but by then it was already 16-0, and their 4-11 victory in the sprint halved the lead, making the score 20-11. The next three events kept things tight; a 0-0 50 fly, 6-7 loss in the 100 Free, and an 8-6 win, opening the gap to 10 points. Fausto Gonzalez swam unopposed, taking 6-0 points, and Ismael Juarez kept good technique in the 50 Breaststroke while his two opponents were DQ’d, splashing a 12-0 run on the Cardinals, widening the 10-point lead by 12 more, making it 46-24. The 400 team relay would end the meet with a DQ, but would hold on to their 10 point victory, 46-36.

All four swimmers dropped time on their season best swims in the 200 Free (Fausto), 50 Free (Ben Rodriguez), 50 Fly (Robert Robles) and the 50 Breast (Ismael Juarez). 

Robert Robles (100) and Ben Rodriguez (105) join Ismeal Juarez (120) in earning 100 points for the season.