C
anyon High Swim Coach Steve
Himes is all smiles when he talks
CCanyon Girls anyon Girls
about his team’s accomplishments in
the last swim season. “I just knew they SSwimming Makes wimming Makes
would do it,” said Himes. “I could see
it in their eyes.” After their CIF swim,
junior breaststroker Sarah Pino asked,
HHistoryistory
“Did we do it? Did we get All-America?”
EEarn All-America Titlearn All-America Title
The coach nodded while the teammates
cheered, and the rest is … well, “sweet,”
as Coach recalls.
Four girls – Kearsten Livingstone, Sarah
Pino, Adria Morales and Milena Lopez –
with no seniors among them, knew how
to get it started. All from the sheer deter-
mination that comes from years of tough
competition, they earned the All-America
mark of 1:49.80 and set a new school
record in the 200 medley relay at the CIF
Southern Section Swim Championships
in Long Beach. They were very close in
prelims, but the Cowboys closed the deal
BBy Jane Lopezy Jane Lopez
at finals. The girls then went on to the
CIF Masters meet in that event, making
them sixth in Southern California.
Meanwhile, sophomore Kearsten
Livingstone was working on her own
personal challenge, capturing the All-
America in the 100 butterfly, with a time
of 56.51, and adding the 100 backstroke.
Kearsten is a nationally-ranked swimmer
who is the backbone of what Canyon
swimming is now. Canyon has never
before had a girl’s team at this level, and
she brings all of her strengths to the his-
tory-making team.
Coach was not surprised with all of their accomplishments during the
season and at CIF, as eight new school records were broken in 2008
alone. These girls, plus many on the team, compete year round, and
put a lot of hours per week in the water, adding dry land training and the
gym. “We are on a roll with our team, and we couldn’t be more excited for
the 2009 season that starts in February,” the coach said. “We’re moving
up to Division I, which means even faster qualifying times. You can
bet the girls will be up for the challenge again this year, with all of them
returning to the squad. And Milena and Sarah especially want to cap off
their senior year with more exciting swims.”
Canyon swimmers are facing another kind of challenge this year – no
buses to practice at all due to district budget cuts. The Canyon Swim
Boosters club is working hard fundraising to pay for swim lanes at the Aquatic
Center, and arrange for carpool rides for 85-plus swimmers to get in the water
before the season starts. Coach Himes added, “We really need the support of the
community this year to keep this program running – any help is greatly appreci-
ated.” Contact Steve Himes at shimes@hartdistrict.org. Go Cowboys!
Photos (from top): Milena Lopez on the blocks: Kearsten Livingstone in butterfl y competition;
group photo of (L to R) Milena Lopez, Adria Morales, Kearsten Livingstone and Sarah Pino, with
Coach Himes in back; Adria Morales (right); Sarah Pino in Table of Contents (page 10)
34 Canyon Country Magazine November 2008
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