Springwood, Ygnacio Wood win historic swim meet titles while Dana Hills repeat as City, County team champions

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CA (August 30, 2022) — While the Dana Hills Swim Team of Clayton swam to repeat championships at the Contra Costa County and Concord City swimming meets last month, Concord teams Springwood and Ygnacio Wood won historic division championships at the season-ending meets for recreation swimming.

Springwood Swim Club won the Division III championship at the County Meet in Lafayette, the first-ever County title for the Sprinters. Ygnacio Wood captured the B Division team championship at the 55^th Concord City Meet, the first division title for the Seahorses in many years.

After finishing second three times and spending a decade among the top three teams in the annual Contra Costa Swimming Championships, Dana Hills has now won back-to-back county championships as the Otters narrowly outscored runner-up Rancho San Miguel of Walnut Creek for its second successive Division I title.

The County Meet was the week after the Concord Swimming Championships where the Otters won the A title for the 29^th time in the last 30 City Meets. Ygnacio Wood finished 31 points ahead of two-time defending champions Gehringer Park in the city B Division.

As is usually the case, Dana Hills’ depth led to dominance in the City Meet relay races at Northgate High school with the Otters again winning 17 of 24 relays and never placed lower than third in the 24 relays.

DHST took seven A Division high-point wards. On the girls side Charley Branich (6 and under), Cole Branich (9-10), Rebecca Adent (11-12) and Maddie Bautista (13-14) won top hoors while Preston Forney (7-8), Rhys Delaney (11-12) and Nick Cadero (13-14) were leading point-getters.

In the A Division, Springwood had four high swimmers in Maya Canada (15-18), Marisa Shahan (7-8), Eric Tizon (9-10) and Shawn Canada (15-18).  The other high point swimmer was Andrew Kosich (6 and under) for Ygnacio Wood.

Springwood Sprinters photos

B Division

City Meet B Division high-point swimmers came from seven teams. Walnut Country had Nora Peck (7-8), Leah Agustin (9-10) and Kyle Washmura (7-8). Dana Hills (Rex Rainsberg 6 and under and Nathan Stojanovich 11-12), Pleasant Hill Dolfins (Sage Bechtel 11-12 and Madsen Sam 13-14) and Gehringer Park (Meghan Andrade 15-18 and Mela Villalon Hunhuff 6 and under) each had two winners. Rounding out the B Division high point winners were Elyse Vannier of Springwood (13-14), Sylas Williams of Forest Park (9-10) and Aidan Chenault (15-18) of B Division champions Ygnacio Wood.

The two meet relay awards went to Dana Hills with the record-breaking 15-18 girls medley relay of Zoe Lahanas, Jules Della Santina, Gianna Kougios and Mandy Meyerson and the boys 13-14 medley quartet of Nick Cadero, Jordan Newman, Ollie Jarvis and Kai Parker.

There were three meet records at the Concord Championships, a year after no marks were set in 2021. Besides the DHST girls 15-18 medley relay record setters, Airi Seib (PHD) set a new mark in the 15-18 individual medley and Maya Canada broke the 15-18 breaststroke record for Springwood.

Ygnacio Wood was voted the coveted Team Sportsmanship award again.

Seahorses coach Halley Darr has been involved with the team as a swimmer and coach for 19 years and says this is the first city title during that time. She said, “I couldn’t be more proud of the determination and spirit that every swimmer showed throughout the season and especially during the city meet. The success these Seahorses achieved is the reward they deserve for their hard work and love for this team.”

Sprinters, Otters atop the County

In the County Division III (divisions are determined by the number of entries each team has in the meet) Springwood finished 56.5 points ahead of runner-up Martinez Community Swim Team.

Coach Taylor Henry pointed to a few standout moments including the first-place 7-8 girls freestyle relay (Marisa Shahan, Gianna Krupa, Sadie Junier, Siena Curry), Tizon taking double gold to earn 9-10 boys high point, a first-place swim by Maya Canada in the 15-18 women’s breast and second place for Junier in the 7-8 butterfly in only her second year swimming competitively.

Coach Henry says, “As a team we came together under the motto ‘small but mighty’ and had some outstanding accomplishments. Springwood Sprinters swam their heart out all summer long and I am extremely proud and honored to have shared such a successful season with each and every one of them.”

Dana Hills won its back-to-back Division I championship with Charley Branich (6 and under girls) and Delaney (11-12 boys) took high point. Bautista (13-14 girls) tied for second and Lahanas (15-18 girls) was third in their age groups.

The Otters 6 and under and 15-18 girls medley relays both claimed first place to rack up key points for DHST at county.

Also at County Meet, Pleasant Hill Dolfins standout Seib set one of two meet records with a 24.01 time in the 15-18 girls free while earning high point in the age group as well. Conor Halley-McCarty of Pleasant Hill Aquatics was third in 15-18 boys high point.

Dana Hills team photos

City Meet Team Scores

A Division: Dana Hills Otters 1236.5 points, Ygnacio Wood Seahorses 544, Springwood Sprinters 459, Gehringer Park Gators 383.5, Pleasant Hill Dolfins 327.5, Oakhurst Orcas 284, Forest Hills Beavers 195, Forest Park Flyers 171, Walnut Country Stingrays 157.5, Vista Diablo Dolphins 62.

B Division: Ygnacio Wood 299, Gehringer Park 268, Dana Hills 266.5, Pleasant Hill Dolfins 246, Forest Park 229, Springwood 190, Walnut Country 188, Oakhurst 175, Forest Hills 161, Vista Diablo 78.5.

City Meet Individual

Local team’s finishers (top 4 City Meet – A and B Divisions)

Dana Hills: Cole Branich, Raymond Lucia, Ollie Jarvis, Harper Lanpher, Rebecca Adent, Ada Jeffress, Gianna Kougios, Molly DeSeelhorst, Isla Acosta, Charley Branich, Jules Della Santina, Allison Fuentes, Rhys Delaney, Jack Stack, JJ Westbrook, Jack Parker, Preston Forney, Gavin Switzer, Camden Herrera, Aiden Acosta, Victoria Mangrobang, Ruby Rainsberg, Elsa Jeffress, Ellie Comfort, Whitney Dupell, Aaron Carbaugh, Alex Colt, Ian Meyer, Maddie Bautista, Nick Cadero, Kai Parker, Jakob Jensen, Aaron Woodling, Aidan Moss, Spencer Cichurski, Sierra Roberts, Mackenzie Pak, Sloane Smith, Kayden Colis, Ara Reza, Katie Sobajian, Savannah Roberts, Ollie Jarvis, Rory Niven, Zoe Lahanas, Meritt Pak, James Pence, Kylie Struempf, Nathan Stojanovich, Finn Duggan, Jordan Newman, Yoshiye Longley, Carrick Duggan, Mason Forney, Rex Rainsberg, Luke Rives, Kaia Brogan, Zackery Flores, Brandon Vogler, Evan Vogler, Michaela Pence, Cavin Spruiell, Jahnvi Roul, Carli Burkhardt, Trinity Ramos, Caitlin Kougios, Mandy Meyerson, Ian Kelly, Zoe Cooper, Ruban Raichoudri, EJ Stice, Hunter Markle, Jackson Bachtold-Smith, Devin Kelly.

Forest Park: Alexis Steffensen, Brooklyn Henggeler, Nye No, Scarlett Ringue, Adam Plumley, Peyton Hix, Shia Padilla, Sylas Williams, Wambui Wesonga, Jax McHuron, Olivia Carlson, Rileigh Spilman, Jackson Murphy, Alexis Pattison, Audrey Valero, Ryan Carlson, Simone Ilegbodu, Elle Zane, Forest Vazquez, Nolan Johnston, Jude Willms, Christopher Murdock, Emma Tayas, Isaac Ragland, Alistair Cummings, Lila Kirby.

Gehringer Park: Carrie Shin, Amelia Chaix, Noah Shin, Jonah Oleole, WB Pelletier, Maclaine Grisafi, Sophia Long, Avery Boughton, Amelia Giordano, Mela Villalon Hunhoff, Alice Wallbridge, Henry Delamain, Max Middlemiss, Janna Delamain, Nico Lawler, Isabella Jimenez, Rylee Cox, Peter Wallbridge, Maddie Muhlestein, Ryleigh Timon, Olivia Roddick, Riley Barroso, Janelle Shin, Mateo Flores, Landon Witters, Kyle Score, Meghan Andrade, Hannah Jacobs, Natalie Mathie, Isabella Jimenez, Julia Daw, Janna Delamain, Kai Leigh Hernandez.

Oakhurst: Robert Griffith, Connor White, Oliver Lutz, Alex Ryan, Dominic Landini, Ethan White, Asheer Wan, Everly Guerrettaz, Brynn Panza, Riley Battistelli, Daniel Smith, Grace Pugh, Katherine Pugh, Colton Roberts, Grace Bell, Alexander Jenson, Eve Draek, Aurora Subia, Quinn Pascoe, Scarlett Kent, Cole Panza, Hannah Pascoe, Faith Pugh.

Pleasant Hill Dolfins: Brandon Palaganas, Norah Fish, Sam Madsen, Kyle Katsikas, Riley Oscamou, Drew DeSilva, Aylan Denane, William Davis, Kayden Masongsong, Kayla Oxley, Charlotte Clausen, Riley Banchero-Lightsey, Airi Seib, Ava Budgin, Aishani Roy, Emilia Priftis, Natasha Morrow, Simone Martel, Emmett Wong, Natalie Ross, Jose Sanchez, Henry Buffington, Alice Nunan, Luciano Eugenio, Sage Bechtel, Chloe Morford, Megan Womble, Alessandro Carino, Corinne Katz, Hadley Rolita, Lachlan Toovey.

Springwood: Cassidy Ortiz, Riley Brandt, Neil Garcia, Shawn Canada, Damik Van Fanos, Eric Tizon, Derek Tizon, Alexa Malsom, Maya Canada, Lily Salimpour, Avery Sealock, Harper Ramos, Matthew David, Emilene Ringue, Marissa Vandevoir, Noah Shahan, Marco Caputi, Elyse Vannier, James Llata, Gianna Krupa, Marisa Shahan, Rocco Caputi, Makira Brown, Avery Szehner, Andrea Ledezma, Sadie Junier, Jedidiah Winston, Valerius Caputi, Ella Hertzfeldt.

Vista Diablo: Everett Peters, Alex Lingenfelter, Chloe Viscarra, Whitney Wells, Ally Brown, Lorelei Paul, Kaila Bream, Isaac Degnan, Kati Lingenfelter, Keelan Shellooe.

Walnut Country: Leah Agustin, Ireland Lewis, Cole Louie, Kyle Washmera, Aiden Huckestein, Jonathan Lindquist, Oliver Knoflick, Riley McCann, Ava Manuel, Nora Peck, Amelia Williams, Timur Nurakhunov, Gabriella Williams, Hudson Transue, Morgan Soo Hoo, Anna Rothwell, Leo van Rooyen, Haris Nurakhunov, Romeo Luna, Logan Boyle.

Ygnacio Wood: Ava Manuel, Courtney Ward, Marcus Manuel, Tommy Meriam, Michael Manuel, Andrew Kosich, Joseph Kosich, Seth Christy, Anna Lindsay, Emily Marques, Gabriella Glueck, Jacob Cole, Nevaeh Minglana, Sydney Hallin, Quinten Greene, Nicholas Kosich, Nolan Rasmussen, Madison Anderson, Abby Olson, Cody Olson, Tommy Martin, Aidan Chenault, Micah Christy, Clara Minglana, Lilly Nelson, River Davis, Logan Muller, Cailyn Sabet, Abigail Walters, Eliana Pezel, Jude Christy, Kate Merrill, Dan Shargel, Wyatt Boone, Natalia Olds, Joey Laughlin, Anthony Lawson, Ty Clement, Bianca Marques, Mia Meriam, Addison McCann, Sonia-Grace Felfela, William Greene, Blake McGillvrey, Piper Smedley, Regan Shelley, Riley McCann, Joey Mucha, Victoria Mercer.