Granite Hills High senior a favorite in upcoming swim championships

Already the holder of five school records — two individual and all three relays — Granite Hills High senior Aubrey Bailey looks to place a few more swimming medals in her display case before her illustrious high school career comes to a conclusion.

A specialist in the butterfly, Bailey will be among the favorites when her school hosts this weekend’s CIF San Diego Section championships. The preliminaries are today (Thurs., May 16), with the final rounds slated for Saturday at the new East County Aquatics Center, located next to the Granite Hills baseball diamond,

Already the holder of five school records — two individual and all three relays — Granite Hills High senior Aubrey Bailey looks to place a few more swimming medals in her display case before her illustrious high school career comes to a conclusion.

A specialist in the butterfly, Bailey will be among the favorites when her school hosts this weekend’s CIF San Diego Section championships. The preliminaries are today (Thurs., May 16), with the final rounds slated for Saturday at the new East County Aquatics Center, located next to the Granite Hills baseball diamond,

Bailey qualified in all five of her events by taking home golds at last week’s Grossmont Hills League championships, advancing in the 100 fly, 100 IM and each of the three relays. Although she just missed on breaking several of her own records, the focus is more towards saving energy for a big finish to her school year at the section meet.

“It’s nice to get back to the CIF meet so I have a chance to defend my title,” said Bailey, who wants to major in biology in college in become a physical therapist. “Today I was able to go under 60 (seconds) in the 100 fly, so I know I’ll be ready for CIF.”

Bailey was clocked in 59.05 seconds, almost a full second off her mark in the prelims, yet in sight of her school mark of 58.59 in the fly.

“If everything goes as planned, I should beat that time,” she said. “But winning is also important, too. Either way, I will be happy.”

Bailey’s other Eagles record is 59.96 in the individual medley. She also swims a leg on the 100 and 200 fee relays and the 200-medley relay.

On the boys’ side, two top competitors out of the Grossmont Hills League are Caleb Davies of West Hills and Marco Russo of Steele Canyon. Both are seniors with college swimming plans.

Davies easily captured league titles in the 50 (21.01) and 100 free (46.29). He believes his time can be lower with the proper preparation.

“I didn’t even shave or use a (speed bathing) suit for this meet,” said Davies, headed for Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.
Russo likes the idea of returning to the Granite Hills pool for CIF finals.

“It’s nice to get used to the pool and become familiar with the conditions,” noted Russo, headed for Denver University.
Russo captured the 200 (1:43.39) and 500 free (4:46.47), but he considered them to be completely different races.

“In the 200,it’s just a sprint, so you just go,” he noted. “In the 500, you need to keep a watch on the others in the race.”
Russo also anchored the Cougars’ winning 200 free relay squad.

Other girls champions included: Jordan Gueniot of Steele Canyon (50 and 100  free), Sarah Nowaski, West Hills (200 and 500 free), Julia Tomczak, West Hills (100 back), and Cortney Bayuk, Valhalla (100 breast).

Other boys winners were: Thomas Hodgson, Granite Hills (200 IM, 100 breast); Shawn Howen, Steele Canyon (100 fly); Jake Casey, Granite Hills (100 back).