Viking women conquer Coast Conference

Viking women conquer Coast Conference

The West Valley women's swim team dominated the Coast Conference in 2021 with the top times in 18 of the 20 events they entered during the season. The abbreviated three-meet season ended June 3, when coach Erika Vargas's Vikings captured all 19 events in the Las Positas June Invitational.

WVC was paced by seven swimmers who had one or more of the Coast's best times of 2021. Maria Higginbotham led the way with the fastest times in the 100 Free (55.37), 200 Free (2:01.58), 1000 Free (11:46.29) and the 50 Back (30.06). She was second in the 500 Free. Heather Gray placed first in the 100 Fly (1:00.59), the 100 IM (1:05.80) and the 200 IM (2:19.10). She placed second behind Higginbotham in the 200 Free.

Marie Lucquet also grabbed three of the top individual times. She topped the Coast in the 500 Free (5:19.92), the 100 Breast (1:15.48) and the 200 Breast (2:53.73), and was second behind Gray in the 200 IM. Sierra Ceballos had the top time in the 50 Free (25.83), was second in the 100 Free and 50 Breast, and third in the 100 Breast. Emily Fields turned in the best time in the 100 Back (1:08.68) and was second in the 50 Back and 200 Back.

Johanna Scheer took the 50 Breast (32.94), while Kaylie Mendoza was tops in the 50 Fly (30.86). The Vikings recorded the fastest times in four relays: the 200 Free (1:43.90), the 400 Free (3:49.23), the 200 Medley (1:57.22) and the 400 Medley (4:23.52). Top 20 times in multiple events were also recorded by Asya Cardenas-Miranda, Selma Korkic, Anfisa Kupriyanova, Marija Mijuskovic, Nadja Novakovic, Sara Phan, Isabella Ruzsa and Grace Smith