Warrior girls 2-1 after first three swim meets

A 135-51 loss March 6 at Carlsbad opened Fallbrook High School's girls swim season, but the Warriors followed that defeat with a 107-62 home victory March 8 against Oceanside and then prevailed over Escondido Charter by a 100-82 score March 15 in Fallbrook.

"It's been exciting," said Fallbrook coach Sean Redmond.

Redmond wasn't expecting a victory over Carlsbad. "The majority of those swimmers are year-round club swimmers," Redmond said of Carlsbad.

Times rather than positions were Redmond's objectives. "I was expecting us to race, and that's what we did," he said.

The Lancers won all 12 events. "In a number of events they went 1-2 or 1-2-3 on us," Redmond said.

Each school is allowed three swimmers for each of the eight individual events with position points being awarded for the top five finishes. A school can enter up to two quartets for each of the three relay races, and points are given for the top three finishes.

"For a number of girls it was their first meet," Redmond said of his swimmers. "It definitely opened their eyes."

Individual swimmers and divers rather than teams qualify for the CIF meet, so the only impact a non-league meet has on a team's post-season is that individuals or relay teams can post qualifying times or diving scores at a non-league competition. Five of Fallbrook's girls met CIF consideration standards at Carlsbad: freshman Paris Dowden and junior Gabby Vazzana had consideration times in the 200-yard individual medley, junior Kaitlyn Callagher obtained a provisional time in the 50-yard freestyle, and consideration scores for diving were achieved by sophomore Chiara Curnow and junior Kelly Hanlon.

The season opener will be Fallbrook's only dual meet on the road this year. The win over Oceanside pleased Fallbrook's spectators who attended the event, and Redmond also appreciated the results.

"I thought it was a good bounce back after Carlsbad," said Redmond. "They definitely got up and raced."