Carlmont and Menlo-Atherton locked up Wednesday for the most important dual meet of the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division swimming schedule. The results are in — both teams are really good.
Zerach Chan
“Long-standing rivalry for M-A and Carlmont in terms of the league, and there’s been a little bit of back and forth over the last few years,” Carlmont head coach Derek Koo said. “So, for both the boys and girls, this would be the determining meet to see who would have the upper hand in the league.”
With both the boys’ and girls’ varsity teams heading into the meet with undefeated records, Wednesday’s final scores only served to hash out the regular-season dual meet standings. Both final scores were so close, however, it projects to be a toss-up come the postseason when the two teams go head-to-head Saturday, May 3 at the PAL Championships.
The Carlmont boys (5-0 PAL Bay) claimed the victory at Wednesday’s dual in their home pool, winning 88-82 in thrilling fashion by overtaking M-A (4-1) in the finale 400-yard freestyle relay. With the win, Carlmont takes outright control atop the PAL Bay Division dual meet standings.
The Menlo-Atherton girls (5-0) won by the mirrored score of 88-82, taking outright control of first after entering the day tied with Carlmont (4-1).
“Up until now, Carlmont hasn’t had too much competition when it comes to the dual meets,” Koo said. “So, I think it’s a good time for this meet to occur.”
It was an emotional finish for the Gentleman Scots. Will Garrish, Sam Wei, Benjamin Mai and Zerach Chan took first place in the finale 400 free relay with a time of 3 minutes, 20.59 seconds, with Chan securing the win with an epic anchor leg.
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Trailing by nearly six seconds when he hit the water, Chan was still trailing by a whisker at the final turn. By the time he hit the wall in first place, the Carlmont pool was in a frenzy of excitement and celebration typically only seen at championship meets.
“I don’t typically get that at dual meets,” Koo said.
Carlmont also won the boys’ 200 free relay earlier in the day with a time of 1:33.39. Chan earned individual wins in the 200 individual medley with a season-best 1:58.77; and in the 100 breaststroke in 1:00.15.
In the girls’ varsity meet, Carlmont was out of reach of M-A heading into the finale 400 free relay, but Alia Bock, Lila Malloy, Angie Picht and Louise Scherrer won it in 3:45.82 to narrow the final score.
Scherrer, a freshman, also took first place in the girls’ 200 IM in 2:09.68, a CCS qualifying cut. She later won the 100 free by over one full second in 53.99. Carlmont also won the 200 free relay in 1:58.07.
“Scherrer had a phenomenal meet,” Koo said.
The trials for the PAL Bay Division Championships at Menlo-Atherton open Wednesday, April 30 (girls) and conclude Thursday, May 1 (boys). The finals Saturday, May 3, at Menlo-Atherton, start at 1 p.m.
“It’s a little bit of a wakeup call for them,” Koo said of the Carlmont girls’ team loss. “There’s about a month left (until PAL Championships) and if they’re really serious about winning ... it’s going to come down to who wants it more. I think both teams have an incredible amount of talent and a lot of depth.”
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