Costa Swimming, Beach Volleyball Win Back-To-Back Championships
May 03, 2024 08:18PM ● By Jeanne Fratello
The Mira Costa swim team (top) and girls' beach volleyball team both celebrated back-to-back championships this week.
There must be something in the water, or on the sand...Mira Costa High School athletes continue to dominate in local competitions, with both its swim team and girls' beach volleyball teams clinching championships in the past week.
Mira Costa Swims To Bay League Three-Peat
The Mira Costa swim team dominated the 2024 Bay League Swim Championships in Santa Monica, winning all four divisions for the third year in a row.
“I am immensely proud of the camaraderie, sportsmanship, and dedication displayed by our team. We have built something truly special at Costa, and it’s evident,” said head coach Ariana Silva. “Each swimmer consistently brings their all to every practice and meet and it’s amazing to see their commitment translate into success.”
Head Varsity Coach Heidi Nelson added, “We approached Bay League with a focused intent and energy that inspired our athletes to really push themselves. Our Costa culture of hard work and ‘team-first’ mentality really showed through, helping to bring the best out of our athletes year after year.”
Competing against Culver City, Palos Verdes, Peninsula, Redondo Union, and Santa Monica high schools, the Mustangs won 36 out of 42 events, and broke 10 Bay League records in the process. New records included:
- Girls 100 Fly Varsity - Delaney Herr (breaking her own Bay League record from 2022)
- Boys 100 Fly Varsity - Peyton Kuo
- Girls 100 Breast Varsity - Bella Brito
- Boys 100 Breast Varsity - Anderson Bennett (who had just set a new Bay League record in the prelims)
- Girls 200 Medley Relay Varsity - Delaney Herr, Bella Brito, Andi Taylor, and Shea Steggell
- Boys 200 Medley Relay Varsity - Luke Van Dijk, Anderson Bennett, Peyton Kuo, and Joshua Truong
- Girls 400 Freestyle Varsity Relay - Delaney Herr, Heather O’Brien, Shea Steggell, and Bella Brito
- Girls 200 Freestyle Relay Junior Varsity - Skylar Hauck, Noa Sandlom, Veronica Escopete, and Rebeca Irvin
- Boys 50 Fly and 50 Breast Junior Varsity - Connor Taylor
(Costa Junior Bella Brito. Photo via Mira Costa Swimming.)Twenty Costa swimmers went on to compete in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 meet on Thursday, resulting in two record-breaking swims: a new Costa 200 IM record of 2:01:77 set by Bella Brito; and a new Costa 400 free relay record of 3:26.51 set by Delaney Herr, Heather O'Brien, Shea Steggell, and Bella Brito.
Girls Beach Volleyball Captures Second CIF Championship
Meanwhile, the Mira Costa girls beach volleyball
team won its second Division 1 CIF Southern Section Championship, making
them back-to-back CIF Champions.
This is only the second year that CIF
has held championships for girls beach volleyball and Mira Costa has won
both championships. Costa beat Huntington Beach in the semifinals and Redondo Union in the
finals.
(Photo via Costa Girls Beach Volleyball)In the CIF pairs competition, the sister duo of Savanna Lau and Giselle Lau earned second place, while Taylor Deckert and Olga
Nikolaeva advanced to the semi-finals, finishing in a tie for third. The Lau-Lau and Deckert-Nikolaeva teams represented two of the top three out of a total of 64 pairs in the competition.
