Loyola Sets Relay Record as Santa Margarita Sweeps CIF Southern Section DI Championships

Photo Courtesy: Dan Albano Twitter @ocvarsityguy

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After the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) delayed sports through the fall, the 2021 CIF Southern Section DI State Championships were held on May 27 at Santa Margarita Catholic High School in Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.

Racing in their home pool, the boys of Santa Margarita won their first-ever team title by just 1.5 points. On the girls’ side, the Eagles captured their seventh-straight championships crown.

Click HERE for full results.

The meet was highlighted by Loyola’s Rex Maurer (44.40), William Kim (44.13), Zachary Larrick (45.01), and Jack Brearton (45.86) winning the 4×100 free relay in 2:59.40 en route to eclipsing the record of 2:59.65 they set back in 2019.

BOYS MEET

Santa Margarita Catholic High School boys

Photo Courtesy: CIF Southern Section Twitter
@CIFSS

Top 5 Team Scores:

1. Santa Margarita – 322.5
2. Loyola – 321
2. Harvard Westlake – 166.5
4. Huntington Beach – 157
5. Tesoro – 155

In addition to leading off the record-breaking 4×100 free relay, Maurer also won both the 200 free (1:35.91) and 500 free (4:19.57). He also anchored his team’s 4×50 free relay that won in 1:22.46, just shy of the record of 1:22.13.

Despite only winning one event, Santa Margarita used their impressive depth to capture the team title by 1.5 points. The Eagles’ only gold medal came from Humberto Najera, who won the 200 IM in 1:47.26.

Additionally, Santa Margarita’s team only had two seniors on the roster.

Havard Westlake’s Ronald Dalmacio was another double-event winner, claiming the 50 free in 20.32 as well as the 100 back in 47.88. He also swam on his team’s 4×50 medley relay that won in 1:31.62.

Cal-bound Hank Rivers of Woodrow Wilson earned gold medals in the 100 free (44.65) and 100 breast (54.13). Valencia’s Jacob Aina took the top spot in the 100 fly with a time of 48.79.

GIRLS MEET

Santa Margarita Catholic High School girls

Photo Courtesy: CIF Southern Section Twitter
@CIFSS

Top 5 Team Scores:

1. Santa Margarita – 457
2. Valencia-Valencia – 191.5
3. Crescenta Valley – 177
4. Tesoro – 127
5. Mater Dei – 118

Santa Margarita dominated the meet swimming in their home pool, winning all but two events. The Eagles swept all three relays, winning the 4×50 medley relay in 1:42.57, the 4×50 free relay in 1:33.66, and the 4×100 free relay in 3:20.49.

Soon-to-be USC Trojan Justina Kozan was the girls’ meet’s only double-event winner, taking home titles in both the 100 free (49.40) and 200 free (1:44.40). Her sister, Asia Kozan, won the 200 IM in 2:01.40.

Teia Salvino sprinted to the win in the 50 free in 23.06, followed by teammates Lindsay Ervin (23.30) and Linda Yu (23.52). It was another Eagle sweep as Northwestern-bound Ervin (50.27) and Salvino (50.63) finished 2-3 behind J. Kozan in the 100 free.

Other Santa Margarita winners included Macky Hodges in the 500 free (4:47.56) and Maggie McGuire in the 100 back (55.15).

Mater Dei’s Kailia Utley, a Vanderbilt commit, flew to first in the 100 fly (53.67) while Valencia and future Sun Devil Ana Izabella Adame touched first in the 100 breast (1:00.43).

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