Let’s take a deep dive into MCAL girls swimming. For starters, it’s swimming and diving as the Redwood High girls reminded everyone on Saturday during the league finals at the College of Marin Indian Valley campus in Novato.
The Giants won their third straight league pennant on the backs of their superior divers, narrowly holding off regular-season champ Tam. Redwood outscored Tam 394-375 thanks to first- and second-place finishes by divers Lera Bondarenko and Maggie Barnes.
The Red-tailed Hawks, who went 8-0 during the dual season, had high hopes of earning their first MCAL pennant since 2018.
“Tam had beaten us soundly in the dual meet early in the year — routed us,” said Redwood coach Fred Ferroggiaro. “All year long that was our goal — to try to pick ourselves up from that and make a good showing here.”
Of all the participants at this year’s MCAL championships, boys or girls, Bondarenko is definitely the one to watch at the North Coast Section meet that starts with diving on Wednesday in Concord. After winning MCALs last year, the Columbia University-bound senior was second at NCS and second at the CIF State meet.
“She’s a dominant diver,” said Ferroggiaro. “I wouldn’t be surprised if she won state.”
Tam’s second-place finish on Saturday was bittersweet, especially after starting the day strongly with wins in two of the first three girls events. The Red-tailed Hawks won the 200-yard medley relay by more than 4 seconds before Addison Everage totally dominated the 200 individual medley with a time of 2 minutes, 12.51 seconds.
Two events later, Everage won the 100 butterfly in 58.23 to keep the Hawks’ league pennant hopes alive. Everage said she is saving her best swims for NCS, which runs Friday and Saturday in Concord.
“We’ve done the best this year since I’ve been here,” said Everage. “We’ve all become so, so close this year especially. It all shows at MCALs when everybody is behind the blocks cheering for each other. It makes you want to swim faster.”
The fastest swimmer of the day was Marin Catholic’s Esme Quay, who won the 50 freestyle in 23.84. The sophomore also was first in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:06.46.
With Quay swimming anchor, the Wildcats swept the 200 and 400 free relays. Claire Cassidy was also part of the Wildcats’ relays and won the 500 free with a time of 5:31.99.
The Redwood girls got a pair of wins from senior Kate Deforrest. She was first in the 100 free in 53.43 and won the 200 free in 1:58.44.
Zoe Cass-Lein was first in the 100 backstroke to help Archie Williams finish third with 284 points.
Marin Catholic (263) was fourth, followed by Terra Linda (199), Novato (185), Branson (169), San Rafael (105) and San Marin (97).
