Aquinas girls swimming team makes history at CIF Southern Section Division 4 finals

WALNUT — Aquinas High School has a rich tradition in many sports. Girls swimming would not fall into that category.

However, a group of young swimmers and a veteran coach are looking to change that.

Aquinas placed second in the team standings at the CIF Southern Section’s Division 4 championship meet Thursday night at the Mt. San Antonio College Aquatic Center. The Falcons finished with 155 points, all of them accumulated by a quintet of freshmen.

“We have some exceptional young ladies who joined our team this season,” said Falcons coach Loren McCoy, who also coaches the Victory Aquatics club team in San Bernardino. “Most of the swimmers from Victory come to us at Aquinas. … And three things are asked of them: be strong, be courageous and do the work. And we’re thrilled to give a performance like we did here tonight.”

From 2001 to 2024, girls swimmers at Aquinas combined to score only 28 1/2 points at the CIF Southern Section Championships.

Plenty of history was made Thursday night, and it started with the opening event as the Falcons won the 200-yard medley relay. Regina Estrada-Marval (backstroke), Myla Martinez (breaststroke), Ellie Devine (butterfly) and Bella Lira (freestyle) posted a time of 1 minute, 59.10 seconds en route to victory. Aquinas beat Torrance and Placentia Valencia, the other top team title contenders.

“We’re all freshman, so we’re going to keep on growing together,” Martinez said. “I’m very excited, and this is only the beginning.”

The victory in the medley relay was the first section swimming championship in the school’s history. And there was more to come.

Estrada-Marval came into the finals seeded fourth in the 200 freestyle following Tuesday’s preliminary heats. However, she took the early lead Thursday night and never trailed on the way to a time of 1:57.63, more than a second faster than the next finisher. Estrada-Marval was equally strong in capturing the 500 freestyle crown in 5:15.62, a 7-second drop from her time in the prelims.

“It was really exciting. I was just happy to be out here with a lot of my friends,” Estrada-Marval said. “To be able to win is such a great privilege and honor. I’m extremely thankful to be part of this team, and I thank God for giving me the opportunity to do this.”

Estrada-Marval did not swim on the 200 freestyle relay that finished fourth because of a quick turnaround after the 500 freestyle. Lira, Faith Rodriguez, Devine and Martinez joined forces and posted a time of 1:49.30 to pick up 34 more points for the Falcons.

Martinez and Lira also scored in both of their individual events, including a fifth-place finish by Martinez in the 100 breaststroke.

St. Jeanne de Lestonnac sophomore Emory Vorndam also made history Thursday, becoming that school’s first athlete to claim a section championship. He won the 100 freestyle in a time of 46.75, .12 seconds faster than Burbank Providence’s Ryan Warren.

“I’ve been preparing all year for this, and everything just came together,” said Vorndam, who also placed fifth in the 200 freestyle. “I’ve tried to use all the techniques that my coaches have been teaching me this season. And it all clicked for me during that race.”

The most anticipated race of the session arguably was the boys 100 butterfly. Mayfair’s Josh Price, Pacific’s Connor McAleer and Gahr’s Carlos Valderrama posted times faster than the previous Division 4 record of 49.42 . Price won in 48.75, beating McAleer (49.05) Valderrama (49.15). It’s the second straight year McAleer has gone faster than the existing record but only placed second.

“Josh was amazing. It was going to take a 48 to beat Carlos and I, and we weren’t really expecting that,” said McAleer, who also placed sixth in the 200 freestyle. “The time was great. Silver isn’t too bad. And I beat the guy who got me last year (Valderrama).”

Seven other Inland swimmers medaled (top nine) in two individual events.

Citrus Hill freshman Brooke Wiley placed second in the girls 100 butterfly (1:00.99) and was third in the 100 backstroke (1:02.12).

Loma Linda Academy sophomore Tyler Mattenson was second in the boys 100 breaststroke (1:02.44) and eighth in the 200 individual medley (2:08.16).

Arrowhead Christian junior Juliette Early was third in the girls 50 freestyle (24.83) and placed fourth in the 100 freestyle (53.87).

Arlington freshman Lucy Quinto finished fourth in the girls 100 butterfly (1:02.85) and also was fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:33.47).

Norte Vista freshman Brooke Batdorf was sixth in the girls 100 butterfly (1:04.01) and finished seventh in the 200 IM (2:22.15).

Woodcrest Christian freshman Lauren Rodriguez was sixth in the girls 500 freestyle (5:34.18) and ninth in the 200 IM (2:24.45).

North sophomore Kelsey Flores finished eighth in the girls 200 IM (2:22.88) and ninth in the 100 backstroke (1:05.48).

A handful of Inland relay teams turned in top-five finishes Thursday night.

Beaumont’s quartet of Malia Felix, Elena Romero, Sarah Greenwell and Julianna Wright placed second in the girls 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:48.38. Arrowhead Christian (Joy Hemsley, Sarina Lohr, Abi Blake, Juliette Early) finished third in 1:49.06. Cajon (Sophie Maust, Jahzara Garbutt, Jordyn Roybal, Sarah Alexander) was fifth in a time of 1:50.05.

Vista Murrieta’s Noah Burgos La Luz , Sean Burrell, Shawn Cumming and DJ Blackburn placed fourth in the boys 200 medley relay (1:47.36).

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