BENICIA HIGH’S swim team had its best showing in nearly a decade at last weekend’s Sac-Joaquin Section Championships. Leading the Panther boys were (from left) David Larson, Cris Gomez and Xavier Quintana.

The Benicia High School swim team raced to its best finish in almost a decade at the 2015 Sac-Joaquin Section Swimming Championships held at Tokay High School in Lodi.

The Panther varsity squad scored 76 points, the most since 2006 and good for 18th place. The Panther girls Frosh/Soph team scored 103 points, the most by any boys or girls Frosh/Soph squad from Benicia since 2005 and earning a 10th-place finish. The Panthers scored more points at Sections than every Solano County Athletic Conference rival and all Monticello Empire League schools except traditional swimming power Vacaville.

Three Panthers broke five Benicia individual event records – senior David Larson in the 500 freestyle (4:41.97, fifth) and 200 free (1:45.70, 12th); sophomore Alyssa Powell in the 100 butterfly (58.18, first F/S) and 100 backstroke (1:02.54, ninth F/S); and junior captain Hannah Barlow in the 50 free (25.23, 14th). Freshman Samantha Man also scored points individually in the 50 free (25.91, 15th F/S).

The Lady Panthers showed their depth in relays as well. Man, along with sophomores Kelsi Norman and Esther Hurst, joined Powell in setting school records in both the 200 medley relay (1:52.83p, third F/S) and 200 free relay (1:41.81, fourth F/S). Three senior Lady Panthers – Justeen Singley and captains Nicole Peck and Caitlin Wirth – joined Barlow in the varsity 200 free relay (16th, 1:50.74), assisted in prelims by junior Amelia Arechy.

The varsity boys scored points in all three relays. Senior captains Evan Sousa, Nick Barlow and Cris Gomez teamed with junior Matt “Moose” Simonson in the 200 free relay (1:29.45, fifth). Senior Tim Man and junior Xavier Quintana joined Sousa and Simonson in the 200 medley relay (1:42.64, 11th). Sousa, Man, Barlow and Gomez swam the 400 free relay (3:21.74, 11th), assisted in prelims by junior Harrison Flores.

“It has been a while since Benicia swimming had this level of success at Sections,” said head coach Jeff Kuta. “They trained hard, gave it their all and the results show what these Panthers can do now. It’s a great place to build from for the future.”

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