Swimming off to a rocky start

Despite two early-season team losses, the Falcon swim team has seen several CCS-qualifying performances. The team fell to Los Gatos on March 13 and Monta Vista on March 19, leaving the team with a 0-2 record as they advance towards leagues in late May. The girls’ varsity team lost 101-69 to Monta Vista, while the boys’ team lost 122-48.

During the Monta Vista meet, sophomore Stefanie Ting and freshman Jeanette Khowong made CCS times in the 200 yard individual medley, an event where swimmers swim all four strokes: butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle. Ting swam a 2:13.54, while Khowong swam a 2:14.86.

In the 100 yard freestyle, freshman Colina Guan and senior Andre Baluni made CCS cuts with times of 54.76 and 49.35 respectively. Senior Yayla Sezinger made CCS in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5:30.27.

Freshman Anna Zhou made CCS in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:01.76. Ting also made CCS in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:07.26.

In the LG meet, Guan made CCS in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 25.82; senior Madison Gress was close to a CCS cut with a time 26.40. Baluni also made a CCS cut with a time of 22.92. Khowong snagged a CCS time in the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 59.24.

The team has four more meets before leagues begin. Yang expects to win half of the remaining meets. The team will face Palo Alto on April 2 and Gunn on April 17.

“I’m not too confident about winning these because Paly and Gunn are strong teams,” Yang said. “It’s not that surprising because they are the two of the fastest teams in the league.”

In the last two meets of the season, the team will face Homestead and Los Altos in late April.

“I feel so much better about these meets,” Yang said. “I think we have a pretty good chance of winning both of them.”

This season, star swimmers include Baluni and junior Jack Xie.

“Baluni has made all the CCS cuts and has been in all of our relays,” Yang said. “He has definitely made a really huge contribution.”

Because Xie transferred schools from China this year, the start of his year has been delayed.

“Jack won’t be able to swim until mid April, but he should really be able to help us guarantee our wins for the last couple of weeks,” Yang said.

The addition of strong freshman swimmers, such as Guan and Khowong, is helping the team with their loss of key players. The freshmen have contributed by gaining points in various events and relays.

“Because we have so many fast swimmers, our relays for the girl’s team are really good but we are just lacking depth,” Yang said.