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Gorman girls, Palo Verde boys cruise to titles

Amy Lubawy admitted to being nervous as she stepped into the pool for her first Sunset Region swim meet.

The freshman from Bishop Gorman didn't show it, though.

Lubawy won two events to help the Gaels claim their first girls region title in five years Saturday at UNLV.

The Gaels finished with 395 points, outpacing Palo Verde (311) and Cimarron-Memorial (236).

"I was really nervous. I wanted to try and get my junior national time. But I was happy to win," Lubawy said. "I just stretched and focused on the actual race and not so much on other people and how well they did. I just concentrated more."

Lubawy was strong at each turn and used the improved technique of her new, daily practice routine to win the 50-yard freestyle in 24.07 seconds and 100 freestyle in 52.66 seconds.

She wasn't the only Gorman underclassman to excel, either.

Sophomore Olivia Barker, who was named Sunset girls swimmer of the year, posted wins in the 200 individual medley (2:06.13) and 100 butterfly (56.20) and powered two winning relay teams. Fellow sophomores Meghan Boland (200 freestyle, 1:54.61) and Lindsey Englestead (100 breaststroke, 1:04.92) added wins for the Gaels.

"These kids have been really, really good kids through middle school," Gorman coach Ron Aitken said. "It's a new generation of swimmers that are coming out. They are freshmen and sophomores, but there are a lot of good freshmen and sophomores out there now.

"The level of swimming is getting a lot better. These girls have always been pretty good, and they're true champions."

Still, the freshman's performance stood out.

"Amy was outstanding today," Aitken said. "These were really good swims for her, and she's just getting better and better every time she hits the water. The swims from her made us that much stronger for next week."

Palo Verde's Alexis Mayhall set a Sunset record in the 100 backstroke (56.48) to pace the runner-up Panthers, who had won four straight region titles.

The Meadows' Jessie Barra took the 500 freestyle (5:05.19) and 200 freestyle (1:54.13).

In the boys meet, Palo Verde diver Dalton Rios took the 1-meter dive with a total of 371.90, and the Panthers used their depth to score 437½ points and overcome Spring Valley (261) for the title.

Palo Verde also took the 200 freestyle relay in 1:33.29 and had three second-place finishers.

The Grizzlies' Dylan Wolf won the 100 butterfly (49.41) and 200 individual medley (1:52.42), and teammate J.R. Deem took the 50 freestyle (21.51) and 100 breaststroke (59.07)

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