RCC set to host busy week of CIF-SS swimming finals

Redlands East Valley’s girls swimming team enjoyed a third-place finish at last year’s CIF-SS Division 2 finals.

With the way the Wildcats have been going this season, a repeat performance this week at Riverside Aquatics Complex might just feel like an underachievement.

The release of seed sheets for the CIF-SS Swimming and Diving Championships on Saturday afternoon showed REV has two of its relays seeded in the top three, another in the top four and stands to gain big points from junior Autumn D’Arcy and freshman Liberty Williams, who are both top-four seeds in a pair of individual events.

D’Arcy is seeded third in the 100-yard butterfly, where she finished seventh last year, and fourth in the 200 individual medley, which she is taking on for the first time.

It’s all new to Williams, but you wouldn’t know it by the way she has competed this season en route to pinning down a No. 4 seed in the 200 free and the No. 2 seed in the 500 free.

REV also has sophomore Sydney Benveniste and Sam Nickell projected to finish top eight in the 100 fly and 100 backstroke, respectively, as well as some other swimmers that could contribute valuable points.

Murrieta Valley and Redlands are also shaping up to be the top local boys squads in Division 2, as the Nighthawks and Terriers both have three top-10 seeded relays. Murrieta Valley’s 200 medley relay is seeded second, while the Terriers are fifth and Redlands has the No. 2 seed in the 200 free relay.

In addition, the Nighthawks will be counting in James Bilbrey to bring home points in the 100 fly, where he is seeded fifth, and the 100 back, where he is seeded second.

Temecula Chaparral’s girls have a chance to make some waves, led by Madison Frederick, who is seeded fourth in both the 50 free and 100 free. And watch out for Liberty Gilbert, another freshman poised for a breakout CIF debut with the No. 4 seed in the 200 free and No. 2 seed in the 100 back.

Riverside King junior Lauren Vitort is seeded third in the 200 free and Corona Santiago has Mirai Adams seeded sixth in the 200 free and fifth in the 100 free.

Chaparral’s Andrew Gamaley is seeded sixth in both the 200 free and 500 free.

Temecula Great Oak senior Jenner Pennock, who placed second in Division 2 in 1-meter diving last year, is seeded third this season and Eastvale Roosevelt sophomore Adriana Rodriguez is seeded fifth.

In Division 3, Riverside Poly will look to build on a resurgent season that included an unbeaten Inland Valley League title, but the division looks different this year with the addition of the Sunbelt and Mountain Pass Leagues, both up from Division 4.

That means two of the area’s brightest Division 4 stars from last year will have a new proving ground.

Division 4 50 free champion Paul Goetz of Beaumont, who is seeded third this year, and Menifee Heritage’s Katelyn Thomas, who is seeded third in the 50 free and second in the 100 back, will be two to watch here.

Riverside North senior Javier Bernal is no stranger to Division 3. He won the 100 IM title last year and is seeded second this year, as well as being seeded third in the 100 fly.

Lake Elsinore Temescal Canyon has the top-seeded 400-free relay team in Division 3 and also has Jacob Rivers seeded second in the 500 free and Angelo Melendez seeded third in the 100 breast.

Schedule (All events at Riverside Aquatics Complex)

SWIMMING

Division Prelims Finals

1 Thursday, May 11th; 9 am Saturday, May 13th; 5:00 pm

2 Friday, May 12th; 9 am Saturday, May 13th; 10:00 am

3 Wednesday, May 10th; 4 pm Thursday, May 11th; 5 pm

4 Wednesday, May 10th; 9 am Friday, May 12th; 5 pm

DIVING

Division Prelims & Finals

1 Tuesday, May 9th (Boys @ 8:30; Girls TBD)

2 Monday, May 8th (Boys @ 8:30; Girls TBD)

3 Monday, May 8th (Boys & Girls TBD)