Spring Sectionals Recap (March 2-5, 2023)

Spring Sectionals @ Carlsbad (March 2-5, 2023)
Beach Cities took 21 athletes down to Carlsbad to compete in the CA/NV Speedo Sectionals.  After 4 days of hard racing, loud cheering, and endless smiles, we walked away with a 2nd place trophy in the medium team category!  Overall, we ended up in 7th place with only the big-hitting teams above us.  The quality of racing was high from our athletes, but the coaching staff personally enjoyed watching you all have fun with each other, cheering everyone at finals, and creating everlasting memories!
Congratulations, athletes, as you all represented BCS with pride and you made an impression on your coaching staff and the other teams.  We are very excited to watch you all grow and accomplish your goals this summer!  GO BEACH CITIES and stay “juicy!” (it’s an inside joke :-)


Beach 5
Eryn Arnold
Miss Arnold was en fuego at her first Sectionals meet, bagging four best times in her four individual races, making huge leaps in the 400 IM (-6.43) and 200 Breast (-4.45) and finishing as high as 39th place in the 400 IM and 100 Breast.  She scored points at her very first Sectionals meet as a member of the 17th place 400 Medley Relay, splitting a blistering 1:05.90 Breaststroke leg.  Outstanding weekend of racing, Eryn!

Gabi Brito
Miss Brito was the youngest team member to make the trip to Carlsbad at only 12 years old, but she carried herself like a savvy veteran, zooming to four best times in her six individual races and contributing to two scoring relays (400/800 Free) with fantastic splits of 53.39 and 1:59.23, respectively.  Her top individual finish came in the 200 Breast at 54th place.  Way to go, Gabi!

Meagan Gordon
Miss Gordon, also competing in her first Sectionals meet and showing no jitters, was uno for uno with a new best in the 50 Free (25.28).  She also time trialed two events (100 Breast, 200 IM), finishing right on her best times in each race.  Solid showing, Meagan!


Senior 4
Senior 4 sent four athletes down to Carlsbad. For three of them it was their first Sectionals experience. Overall the group performed really well with some great time drops, relay performances and showed some world class character with cheering and being supportive teammates.

Anderson Bennett - Anderson started off his meet with a nice 1.15 second time drop in his 100 Breast to nab a hard cut in the event. In the 200 Breast Anderson dropped 4 seconds to grab his hard cut in short course going 2:10. Great to see all the hard work and stroke focus paying off. Anderson also time trialed the 50 free and dropped a bit of time in that as well.

Fred Brown - Fred dropped a bit of time in his 50 Free, going 21 for the first time. Fred also had a nice .6 drop in the 100 Free to go 48.3 and move up 60 spots! On Sunday Fred split a 47.7 in the 400 Free Relay. He also time trialed the 100 Back and was right on his best time.

Andi Taylor - Andi grabbed her Sectional cut just a few weeks ago and was able to drop even more time in her 50 Free going 24.67. Andi also time trialed the 100 Fly and went a 1:03 for a new best time and had a blast getting to room with and hang with the “older” girls.

Vincent Wang - Vincent had a great meet as well. He was right on his best time in the 50 Free going 22.09. In the 100 Free Vincent had a big time drop going 47.12 dropping 1.2 seconds moving from 153 to 42nd and also earned him a spot on the 400 Free A relay where he replicated his time again. He also time trialed the 200 Free with a 2 second drop going 1.46.


High Performance & Senior 5
High Performance and Senior 5 took 14 athletes down to Carlsbad for sectionals. The tone was set on Thursday night with the 800 Free Relay, the athletes came to race and they did not look back! I am immensely proud of all the athletes, not only were they racing incredibly well, the camaraderie between teammates was incredible, and it was so great to see everyone cheering for each other and wanting everyone to succeed. Overall Hp and S5 walked away with 21 individual finals swims, which helped Beach Cities Secure 2nd place overall in the medium teams but 7th overall out of all the teams! Congratulations swimmers, you have a very proud coach, but more importantly, I hope you are all proud of yourselves! Now let’s bring on Long course season!

Kotaro Bell
Kotaro was instrumental in our 800 Fr relay Thursday night, he led off with an impressive 1:43 which set the tone for everyone else to split 1:43! His fast swimming didn’t stop there though, he was 3 for 4 on best times which included an impressive time drop in the 100, breaking the 48-second barrier for the 1st time. Kotaro I was most impressed with your resilience and ability to bounce back after your 500, going 47.49 in your individual 100 to then follow that up with a 46.42 in the 400 Fr relay was truly impressive, and is a testament to your character!

Bella Brito
Bella was entered into 6 individual events and made finals in all 6 of them, 3 of those were top 3 finishes! Bella was also a huge part of our A relay team, helping our girls finish 6th, 3rd, and 5th respectively. Although Bella didn’t walk away with some of the times she would’ve liked, these were her fastest times of the season, and I was very impressed to see her implement all the new details and technique work from the practice pool! Bella this Summer is going to be very successful!

Tyler Campbell
This was a breakout meet for Tyler, he came down to Carlsbad with a plan and executed it! His first plan was to break 58 in the 100 Breast, he walked away with a 57.87! His second plan was to get under 2:08 in the 200 Breast, he walked away with a 2:06.15 and qualified for finals in the process! At finals, he went on to swim another 2:06 proving to himself that he belongs with the fastest swimmers in Southern California. The fast swimming didn’t stop there Tyler put in some serious swims on the relays. In the Medley relay, he split 56.91 on the breast leg! In the 400 Fr relay, he anchored in a 47.77! Tyler you are setting yourself up for a great long course season, keep up the hard work, and keep on being you! Your energy and charisma are infectious!

James Coyne
James was red hot all weekend long in Carlsbad, he came to race and race is what he did! He kicked off the weekend by anchoring our 800 Free Relay to a 12th-place finish, splitting 1:43.56 in the process. He followed that up with an impressive 200 Free time trial finishing with a 1:43.22, knocking 3.73 seconds off his previous best. James also walked away with a new best time in the 500 Fr and helped our boy's 400 Fr relay to an 11th place finish, once again he was our anchor and split an impressive 46.82! James, you played an integral role in keeping the energy up throughout the weekend, thank you for being you!

Mia Crisera
Mia had a very impressive Sectionals, she was right on her best times in all of her events, and walked away with a new best time in the 50 Fr, securing a place in finals and another futures cut in the process! Mia also put up some big swims in our relays. Mia helped our 800 Fr relay finish 6th overall, she also helped our 400 Fr relay to 5th place finish overall splitting an impressive 51.70! Mia, it was great to see you racing back at your best, and I am very excited to see what you can do this Summer, you’ve added to your Futures lineup, now let's get those Junior National cuts!

Sammie Hall
Superhero Sammie! Sammie put her best foot forward all weekend long, she matched her best times in all of her events, and qualified for finals in the 100 and 200 Fly swimming faster at night than she did this morning. After a season with not much racing, it was great to see Sammie in action over the weekend, her smile and energy were infectious and she showed everyone her world-class character by being a great teammate and competitor. Sammie is another one who is setting herself up for a great Highschool season and Long Course season. This spring and summer will be very exciting indeed!

Delaney Herr
Delaney was a rockstar all weekend long, after coming off a 10-day euro trip she came to sectionals rested mentally and physically, and boy did it pay off! Delaney walked away with 3 new best times, 2 individual final swims, two 3rd place, and finishes, and most importantly her first summer Junior national Cut in the 100 Back! Congratulations Delaney all the hard work you have put in is starting to pay dividends and this is just the beginning! I see more cuts in your future and not just Junior National cuts!

Tiara Jackson
Tiara was our only relay-only swimmer and she made sure to make an impact! In the 800 Free Relay, she helped our B relay finish 19th overall with a 1:57.11 split and helped score valuable points in the process. Tiara’s swimming didn’t stop there though, she was able to time-trial the 200 Fr and the 100 Fr. In the 100 Fr, she was able to break the 56-second barrier for the first time. In the 200 Fr she was just off her best time but a valuable lesson was learned, oxygen helps on the 1st 25!

Catalina Kahan
Catalina has herself a great meet, she walked away with 2 new best times, one in the 100 Breast hitting 1:08 for the first time, and her second came in the 400 Fr relay, where she lead off and hit a new personal best of 53.21! In her other events, Catalina was right on her best times, not too bad for someone who had an injured rib. Catalina is another swimmer who is on the verge of great things and this summer will be an exciting one for her! Once sectionals were over Catalina expressed how excited she is for this upcoming LCM season, she has her foot on the gas and is ready to achieve her goals!

Peyton Kuo
Peyton came into sectionals with a plan and that was to make finals, he achieved that plan! Peyton qualified for finals in the 50 and 100 Fr, and he showed everyone he loves to do one thing and that’s race! Although he didn’t achieve any new best times, he was right on his personal bests in all of his events. Peyton also walked away with his head held high, he was very mature in dissecting his races and is already thinking about how to improve this upcoming Long Course Season! Peyton is another swimmer who is knocking on the door of his 1st Junior national cut, and I can’t wait to watch him achieve it!

Mikki Maemura
This was Mikki’s best meet of the season, it was so exciting to see her race at her best! She didn’t achieve any new best times but she matched her best times and qualified for finals in the 100 Bk. Mikki I’m so proud of your work this season and it was great to see you racing at your best. I was particularly impressed with Mikki’s relay swims in the Medley relay she split a 56.20 narrowly missing a new best time. In the 400 Fr relay, she split a 51.52, which comes in under her personal best! Mikki, I hope you are ready for a successful spring and summer, you are set up to have some serious time drops!

Madie Malone
Madie go fast! That was the motto for her over Sectionals weekend! Madie qualified for finals in the 50, 100, and 200 Freestyle. Each time she went faster at night than she did in the morning, it was awesome to watch her make adjustments from the morning and act on them. Madie was also our anchor staple in the 400 Medley and 400 Fr relay. In the Medley, she split a 51.88, and in the 400 Fr relay which was the last event of the weekend Madie Split a 50.95! It was nice to see Madie racing at her best and I’m excited about her upcoming Long course season!

Jack O’Shaughnessy
Sectionals was a break-out meet for Jack, he walked away with 5 new best times, and two A finals swims! Congratulations Jack, the hard work is paying off. His biggest swims came in his Backstroke events. In the 100 and 200 Back he finished 9 Th overall scoring valuable points for the team. In the 200 Back, he got under the 1:50 barrier for the first and second time. In prelims, he went 1:49.86 and during finals, he went even faster 1:49.34! Jack is knocking on the door of his first Junior national Cut, and I have a feeling it will be achieved sooner rather than later! Keep up the hard work Jack, Juniors is calling your name!

Adriel Sun
This was Adriel’s first Sectionals trip and was a great learning opportunity for him! Although he didn’t walk away with any best times, he matched his best times and put his best foot forward. It’s exciting to be racing with some of the fastest kids in the country, I am excited for more sectional meets with Adriel, and I’m excited to watch him prove to himself that he belongs with the very best. Keep your goals in focus Adriel and let’s go achieve them this long course season!