The competition is getting stiffer for Teagan O’Dell, and that’s fine by her.

The former Santa Margarita swimmer will race in her first senior-level, international meet for Team USA starting Friday, July 18 at the World University Games in Berlin, Germany.

O’Dell, The Register’s reigning female athlete of the year, will compete in the 400-meter individual medley, one of her rising events at the Olympic distance or long course meters.

O’Dell, who signed with Cal, will compete in the 200 IM starting on Monday.

“This being my first time as one of the senior-level swimmers, I’m looking forward to it,” O’Dell said of the World University Games before departing for Germany. “I’m also looking forward to competing along side other college athletes.”

O’Dell, 18, has represented the U.S. at the Junior World Championships in 2023 and twice at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships (2022, 2024).

She fulfilled one of her goals by qualifying for the World University Games at the U.S. nationals in Indianapolis in early June.

O’Dell wanted to make either the U.S. team for Germany or the World Championships in Singapore.

The four-time O.C. female swimmer of the year posted lifetime-best times in the 400 IM (4 minutes, 41.32 seconds) and 200 IM (2:11.25) at nationals.

“Because I had competed at the junior level for three years, I told myself it was time to step it up,” she said. “I’m honored to represent the USA another time.”

ORANGE COUNTY GIRLS ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2024-25

Name: Teagan O’Dell

School: Santa Margarita

Year: Senior

Sports: Swimming

Notable highlights: Teagan O’Dell blazed to Orange County records in six of the eight individual events as a high school swimmer. One mark also set a national record.

But when asked to pick the record that meant the most to her, the Santa Margarita senior navigates off the board to select a team accomplishment: the 400-yard freestyle relay during her freshman year at the CIF State championships.

“I knew with the girls that we had at the school, that was going to be a very, very fast relay,” O’Dell recalled of a national record-setting relay that included Macky Hodges, Teia Salvino and Justina Kozan.

“I look back at photos and videos of that record and I was just so happy that we put our minds to it, gave it our all and we were able to get under the record. I can’t believe that it was four years ago. I’m still in contact with the girls today.”

Relationships and racing for Santa Margarita. That’s what helped push O’Dell to a sensational high school career, which now includes her second Orange County Girls Athlete of the Year honor in three years.

This spring, the Cal-bound O’Dell set four county records as the Eagles defended their CIF-SS Division 1 and CIF State titles.

O’Dell broke the school and county record of Olympian Katie McLaughlin in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1 minute, 42.98 seconds. She also lowered her own county records in the 50 (22.17) and 100 freestyles (48.01), and 100 backstroke (50.82) in earning a fourth consecutive Orange County female swimmer of the year award.

O’Dell departed the high school ranks with county records in the 200 individual medley (national record 1:53.38), 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke (59.73).

The only individual county records that survived her run were Janet Evans’ legendary 500 free (4:37.30, 1988) and McLaughlin’s butterfly (51.53, 2015). Both those were national records at the time. Evans, of course, set multiple world records while attending El Dorado High.

“It’s worthy to compare (O’Dell) with the best ever (in Orange County),” former Mission Viejo Nadadores coach Terry Stoddard said.

O’Dell’s view of high school swimming often returns to her teammates and Santa Margarita co-coaches Rich and Ron Blanc.

“The relationships are always the most impactful in all areas of life,” she said. “People are what make the difference.”

ALL-COUNTY GIRLS SWIMMING TEAM 2025

GIRLS SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

Teagan O’Dell, Santa Margarita, Senior

Teagan O’Dell admits she isn’t the most expressive after her races.

“Usually I don’t really have (a) reaction,” she said.

But late in her senior season at Santa Margarita, O’Dell let her feelings surface. There were bright smiles after she set a couple of Orange County records and a scream at the CIF-SS Division 1 finals.

O’Dell had reason to be excited during her final laps as a high school swimmer.

She capped a remarkable career by setting four county records over a sizzling three-week stretch that included her helping the Eagles extend their reign as CIF-SS Division 1 and CIF State champions.

For the fourth consecutive year, O’Dell is The Register’s girls swimmer of the year, a rare feat in Orange County.

“It’s been a fun four years, for sure, competing for SM,” she said.

O’Dell began her finishing kick at the Trinity League finals by breaking Olympian Katie McLaughlin’s 2015 county record in the 200-yard freestyle. She edged McLaughlin’s mark by three one-hundredth of a second by posting a time of 1 minute, 42.98 seconds.

The Cal-bound swimmer beamed after claiming the mark, which also was Santa Margarita’s school record.

O’Dell delivered arguably her best meet of the season the following week at the Division 1 finals. She set two county records and two Division 1 marks to propel the Eagles to a record-tying 11th consecutive Division 1 crown.

O’Dell let loose after leading off the winning 200 free relay in a county-record 22.17.

“I got out of the water and I screamed at my teammates, trying to hype them up,” she said with a laugh. “I was really happy with that (time).”

O’Dell led off the victorious 400 free relay in a county-record 48.01 for 100 yards, again saving her best performance for a team event.

In her individual races, O’Dell rattled her own national record in winning the 200 individual medley (1:53.43) and lowered her own Division 1 record in the 100 backstroke (51.09).

O’Dell then headed back the CIF State meet May 16-17 in Fresno.

She led the Eagles to a sixth straight title by winning the 200 IM and 100 back and leading off two winning relays. In prelims, she broke her own county record in the 100 back with a 50.82.

O’Dell departs the high school ranks as the Orange County record holder in six of the event individual events: 50, 100 and 200 free, 200 IM, 100 back and 100 breaststroke (59.73). She captured eight section individual titles and six individual state championships.

But for all her individual success, O’Dell cherished her classmates.

“The happiest I saw her (at Division 1 finals) was on that last relay cheering on her teammates,” Santa Margarita co-coach Rich Blanc said.

GIRLS COACH OF THE YEAR

Bryan Dedeaux, El Toro

When Bryan Dedeaux took the helm as El Toro’s girls swimming coach in December, he carried impressive credentials for a first-year coach at the school.

For several years, Dedeaux served as an acclaimed age-group coach with the Mission Viejo Nadadores club. He was selected Southern California’s top age-group coach and counted Hall of Fame coach Bill Rose as a mentor.

Dedeaux put his experience to work at El Toro.

In just a few months on the job, he guided the Chargers to the Division 3 title for their first CIF-SS championship since 1993.

For his efforts, Dedeaux is The Register’s O.C. girls swimming coach of the year.

“Transformational coach,” El Toro assistant principal for athletics Coby Lindsey said of Dedeaux. “This is what we talk about when coaches make a difference within a program and they create a culture and expectations, and the kids rise up to it.”

Dedeaux focused on building a positive team dynamic. “The whole goal was to just get these kids to believe in a team and believe in the school,” said Dedeaux, who now coaches club at SwimNation.

Between the lane lines, he molded a roster featuring swimmers who also played on the Chargers’ girls water polo team that reached the Division 2 semifinals.

El Toro opened the Division 3 swimming finals by winning the 200-yard medley relay in 1:51.88. The Sea View League runner-up went on to score 190.5 points to outdistance Palm Desert (179) for the title.

In 2024, El Toro didn’t score a single point at CIF in Division 2.

ALL-COUNTY TEAM

(All distances in yards)

200 medley relay: Santa Margarita (Gracyn Aquino, Sr., Eileen Song, So., Chloe Stinson, Sr., Victoria Mori, Sr.) 1:41.20; Fountain Valley (Alyssa Ton, So., Kaitlyn Nguyen, Sr., Audrey Prall, Fr., Leyna Nguyen, Sr.) 1:44.00-SL

200 freestyle: Teagan O’Dell (Santa Margarita, Sr.) 1:42.98-OC, TL; Alyssa Ton (Fountain Valley, So.) 1:44.12

200 individual medley: Teagan O’Dell (Santa Margarita, Sr.) 1:53.43-D1; Kaitlyn Nguyen (Fountain Valley, Sr.) 1:59.63

50 freestyle: Teagan O’Dell (Santa Margarita, Sr.) 22.17r-OC; Gracyn Aquino (Santa Margarita, Sr.) 22.68

100 butterfly: Teagan O’Dell (Santa Margarita, Sr.) 52.17-TL; Chloe Stinson (Santa Margarita, Sr.) 54.39

100 freestyle: Teagan O’Dell (Santa Margarita, Sr.) 48.01r-OC; Alyssa Ton (Fountain Valley, So.) 49.08r

500 freestyle: Alyssa Ton (Fountain Valley, So.) 4:43.49; Zoe de Fabrique (San Clemente, Jr.) 4:48.19

200 freestyle relay: Santa Margarita (Teagan O’Dell, Sr., Chloe Stinson, Sr., Victoria Mori, Sr., Gracyn Aquino, Sr.) 1:30.72; Woodbridge (Isabella Parker, So., Holly Fishburn, So., Peyton Ferrero, Fr., Tanja Amizic, So.) 1:34.69

100 backstroke: Teagan O’Dell (Santa Margarita, Sr.) 50.82-OC-CA; Alyssa Ton (Fountain Valley, So.) 53.68-SL

100 breaststroke: Bianca Nwaizu (Calvary Chapel, So.) 1:00.03-D3; Sofia Szymanowski (Corona del Mar, So.) 1:00.79

400 freestyle relay: Santa Margarita (Teagan O’Dell, Sr., Eileen Song, So., Valentina Delgado, Fr., Samantha Cummins, Sr.) 3:21.38; Fountain Valley (Alyssa Ton, So., Audrey Prall, Fr., Kaitlyn Nguyen, Sr., Leyna Nguyen, Sr.) 3:27.88

Diving: Corinna Ruffini (Newport Harbor, Jr.) 526.40; Callie Fox (San Juan Hills, So.) 502.80

All-County legend: OC: Orange County record; D1: CIF-SS Division 1 record; D3: CIF-SS Division 3 record; SL: Sunset League record; TL: Trinity League record; CA: CIF State meet record; r: relay leadoff

Note: Diving selections based on CIF-SS division, CIF State finals

ALL-COUNTY BOYS SWIMMING TEAM 2025

BOYS SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

Derek Hitchens, Northwood, Senior

Derek Hitchens wanted to leave high school swimming on a record-setting splash.

For his final two meets, the Northwood swimmer aimed to break a pair of Orange County records and help the Timberwolves claim the CIF State championship.

It was an ambitious plan, but Hitchens proved worthy of the challenge.

The Columbia-bound senior blasted county records in the 100-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke at the CIF Southern Section Division 1 finals and played a major role in the Timberwolves claiming a second state title.

The combination of individual and team success makes Hitchens the Register’s O.C. boys swimmer of the year, a first for a swimmer from Northwood.

“It’s a dream come true,” Hitchens said of the season. “My older brother Hunter won a state championship in 2018 with Northwood and now here I am … It’s just a blessing.”

“I’m really proud,” he added, “of the success that I’ve had and the success of my fellow swimmers.”

At the Division 1 finals on May 10, the Irvine Novaquatics club swimmer etched his name into county swimming lore by breaking the 1994 county record of six-time Olympian Derya Buyukuncu (Woodbridge) in the 100 free.

Hitchens touched first in 43.79 seconds to slice six one-hundredths of a second off Buyukuncu’s mark, the county’s oldest boys record.

After breaking Buyukuncu’s record, Hitchens raced on Northwood’s 200 free relay. He led off in 20.67 to help the Timberwolves edge JSerra with a time of 1:22.47.

Hitchens experienced a cramp before the 100 back finals and wasn’t sure how well he would race. But after praying behind the starting blocks, he captured the event in an Orange County-record and lifetime-best 47.19.

Hitchens broke Humberto Najera’s 2023 O.C. record for Santa Margarita by almost two-tenths of a second.

“He knew what he wanted,” Northwood coach Alex Nieto said of Hitchens’ performance at the Division 1 finals. “He wanted to make a statement.”

At the state meet on May 17, Hitchens and a few of his teammates sacrificed attending Northwood’s prom so they could race in Fresno.

Hitchens placed second in the 100 back (47.67), fifth in the 100 free (44.24) and raced on two relays, including the 400 free that took second (2:59.14).

Northwood finished the meet with 180 points to outdistance host Clovis West (161).

“It’s almost movie-esque,” Hitchens said of the decision to attend the state meet. “The other guys on the team, we talked about it. Will Chen is also a senior. Andrew (Maksymowski) is a junior. … We’re all, ‘We’ve had our eye on this goal for the entire season. We’re not just going to give it up now. We want to go.’ It definitely turned out well.”

Striking a balance between swimming and other pursuits isn’t new for Hitchens.

In his four year career at Northwood, he maintained a 4.1 grade-point average and took eight AP classes.

“He’s had an incredible four years,” Nieto said.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Ryan Vande Wydeven, University

In his 10th season as University’s coach, Ryan Vande Wydeven guided the Trojans to the Pacific Coast League championship using their depth.

After going 2-1 in league duals, University outdistanced eventual state champion Northwood and defending league champion Portola to claim the league finals meet with 718 points. Northwood (616) and Portola (582) finished a distant second and third, respectively.

“I felt really confident from the get-go that we had the guys to do it,” Vande Wydeven said. “I knew we weren’t going to get a lot of first places but I thought we could get a lot of guys in (the) Top 10.”

“It was super-hype and I’m just happy to be able to do it with this group of guys,” the coach added.

University crowned one league champion in Matthew King in the 100 breaststroke (56.94). The Trojans showed depth by winning the consolation finals in two of the three relays with their B teams.

Vande Wydeven guided University to its first league title since 2019. The Trojans placed 10th at the CIF-SS Division 1 final, an improvement of eight spots from 2024.

ALL-COUNTY TEAM

(All distances in yards)

200 medley relay: Santa Margarita (Adam Lee, Sr., Taylor Thongintra, So., Darren Nguyen, Jr., Daniel Fu, Sr.) 1:31.80; Northwood (Derek Hitchens, Sr., Will Chen, Sr. , Eli Siniak, Fr., Michael Wang, Fr.) 1:31.81

200 freestyle: Andrew Maksymowski (Northwood, Jr.) 1:35.61; Will Chen (Northwood, Sr.) 1:38.12

200 individual medley: Peter Vu (Fountain Valley, Jr.) 1:48.43-SL; Derek Hitchens (Northwood, Sr.) 1:48.47

50 freestyle: Connor Ohl (Newport Harbor, Jr.) 19.79-SL; Nolan Baker (JSerra, Jr.) 20.32; Robin Koehler (Woodbridge, Sr.) 20.32

100 butterfly: Aidan Arie (Newport Harbor, Sr.) 48.28; Derek Hitchens (Northwood, Sr.) 48.29-PCL

100 freestyle: Derek Hitchens (Northwood, Sr.) 43.79-OC; Nolan Baker (JSerra, Jr.) 44.29

500 freestyle: Andrew Maksymowski (Northwood, Jr.) 4:23.91; Jay Hickman (Villa Park, Jr.) 4:27.56

200 freestyle relay: Northwood (Derek Hitchens, Sr., Eli Siniak, Fr., Will Chen, Sr., Andrew Maksymowski, Jr.) 1:22.47; JSerra (Nolan Baker, Jr., Taylor Bell, Sr., Noah Ryznar, Sr., Connor Colman, Jr.) 1:22.48

100 backstroke: Derek Hitchens (Northwood, Sr.) 47.19-OC; Andrew Maksymowski (Northwood, Jr.) 49.05

100 breaststroke: Elonzo Santos (Mater Dei, Jr.) 54.09; Peter Vu (Fountain Valley, Jr.) 54.62-SL

400 freestyle relay: Northwood (Eli Siniak, Fr., Will Chen, Sr., Andrew Maksymowski, Jr., Derek Hitchens, Sr.) 2:59.14; JSerra (Nolan Baker, Jr., Noah Ryznar, Sr., Connor Colman, Jr., Taylor Bell, Sr.) 3:00.75

Diving: Grant Schneider (Capistrano Valley Christian, Sr.) 600.35; Chase Shipp (Laguna Beach, Sr.) 565.80

All-County legend: OC-Orange County record; PCL-Pacific Coast League record; SL-Sunset League record

Note: Diving selections based on CIF-SS division and CIF State finals.

The Orange County girls athlete of the week:

Name: Teagan O’Dell

School: Santa Margarita

Sport: Swimming

Year: Senior

Noteworthy: The Cal signee claimed two individual events and led off a pair of first-place relays to power the Eagles to a sixth consecutive CIF State championship. O’Dell established Orange County and meet records in the 100-yard backstroke (50.82 prelims) and challenged her national record in touching first in the 200 IM (1:53.96). She also set a meet record for the 100 free (48.02).

Send nominees for girls athlete of the week to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on X or Instagram

Santa Margarita’s girls extended their title reign and Northwood’s boys returned to the top at the CIF State swimming and diving championships Saturday at Clovis West High in Fresno.

The Eagles followed the lead of standout Teagan O’Dell to a sixth consecutive title while the Timberwolves employed their depth to claim their first crown since 2018.

After a one-year absence at the meet, O’Dell won the 200-yard individual medley and 100 backstroke and led off two winning relays to help her team score 229.5 points.

Santa Margarita cracked at least the 200-point barrier for the sixth straight state meet in outdistancing runner-up San Ramon Valley (170.5)

“An amazing performance,” Santa Margarita co-coach Rich Blanc said. “This year was a really close-knit group of girls who didn’t want to leave the pool afterward.”

O’Dell touched first in the 200 individual medley (1 minute, 53.96 seconds) and the backstroke (51.27) in completing the double for the third time in her storied career.

In prelims Friday, the Cal-bound senior set meet and Orange County records in the backstroke with a time of 50.82.

O’Dell led off the Eagles’ winning 200 (1:31.55) and 400 (3:22.76) freestyle relays with splits of 22.39 and 48.61.

During prelims, the three-time O.C. swimmer of the year set the meet record in the 100 free with a relay leadoff split of 48.02.

Santa Margarita’s 200 free relay included seniors Chloe Stinson, Victoria Mori and Gracyn Aquino.

The Eagles also featured seniors Sammy Cummins, Morgan Hoppe and Audrey Lee.

Northwood boys didn’t capture an individual event or relay in scoring 180 points to outdistance runner-up and host Clovis West (161).

Northwood highlighted its second state title by finishing as the runner-up in the 400 free relay in a county-leading 2:59.14.

The team consisted by freshman Eli Siniak and Will Chen, Andrew Maksymowski and Derek Hitchens.

Hitchens placed second in the 100 back with a 47.67.

“This year was hard-fought with lower numbers (of swimmers) and our pool being down,” Northwood coach Alex Nieto said. “Our boys showed tremendous resilience all season even when meets and invitationals didn’t go our way.”

“Our second state title is a testament to the culture of achievement we have,” the coach added.

Foothill of Pleasanton sophomore Luka Mijatovic jolted the meet by setting a national record in the 500 free with a time of 4:11.91. It was the third national record established at the state meet in the past four years.

Maksymowski, a junior, placed fourth in the race in 4:24.39. He also took fourth in the 200 free (1:36.13).

Mater Dei junior Elonzo Santos touched fourth in the breaststroke in 54.54.

In diving on Friday, reigning state champion Grant Schneider of Capistrano Valley Christian and Valentino Nieto of Santa Margarita placed second and third, respectively.

Santa Margarita’s boys and girls swimming teams enter this week’s CIF State meet in Fresno as defending team champions.

The three-day meet at Clovis West High begins Thursday with boys and girls diving.

Capistrano Valley Christian senior Grant Schneider is the defending state champion in boys diving.

Santa Margarita’s girls are seeking a sixth consecutive state title while the Eagles’ boys are after a third straight championship.

Both teams defended their titles at the CIF-SS Division 1 championships last weekend at Mt. SAC.

Santa Margarita’s girls are led by Teagan O’Dell, who is seeded first in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 backstroke.

The Cal-bound senior will aim to break her national high school record in the 200 IM of 1 minute, 53.38 seconds. She set the record at the state meet in 2023.

The swimming preliminaries are Friday at 1 p.m. with the finals set for Saturday at 10:30 a.m.

Name: Derek Hitchens

School: Northwood

Sport: Swimming

Year: Senior

Noteworthy: He set Orange County records in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke at the CIF-SS Division 1 championships. Hitchens, who will go to Columbia, won the 100 free in 43.79 seconds and the 100 back in 47.19 to win Division 1 titles in both events. His 100 free time broke the oldest county boys record of 43.85 set by six-time Olympian Derya Buyukuncu of Woodbridge in 1994.

The Orange County girls athlete of the week:

Name: Teagan O’Dell

School: Santa Margarita

Sport: Swimming

Year: Senior

Noteworthy: O’Dell won two races in Division 1 records and set two O.C. records leading off relays to power the Eagles to the team title at the CIF-SS championships. She won the 200-yard individual medley (1:53.43) and 100 backstroke (51.09), and set county records in the 50 (22.17) and 100 freestyles (48.01) leading off winning relays.

Send nominees for girls athlete of the week to Dan Albano at dalbano@scng.com or @ocvarsityguy on X or Instagram

WALNUT — Swimmers poured water over sun-drenched starting blocks as temperatures at the CIF-SS Division 1 championships climbed to almost 100 degrees at Mt. SAC. One swimmer grabbed a drink seconds before his race.

Staying as cool as possible became part of the strategy Saturday but there was no simmering down Santa Margarita’s Teagan O’Dell, her teammates or Northwood’s Derek Hitchens between the lane lines.

O’Dell continued to re-write Orange County aquatics history with two county records and two Division 1 marks to power the Eagles’ girls to a record-tying 11th consecutive championship.

“The G.O.A.T.” Northwood’s Andrew Maksymowski said of O’Dell, who won her seventh and eighth individual section titles and almost broke her own national high school record in the 200-yard individual medley.

Santa Margarita’s girls scored 418.5 points in matching the run of 11 consecutive titles by Mission Viejo’s legendary girls teams in 1970s and 1980s.

The Eagles’ boys used their depth to outdistance runner-up Northwood 321.5-265 for a fifth consecutive title. The Trinity League squad didn’t win an individual race but captured diving with Valentino Nieto.

“We just had a lot of guys get into consols, get in the championship race,” Santa Margarita co-coach Rich Blanc said. “They just won it as a team without any superstars.”

O’Dell signaled her intentions by winning the 200 IM in a Division 1 record time of 1 minute, 53.43 seconds.

She split the first 100 yards (butterfly and backstroke) in 51.36, almost a second faster than her national record pace of 52.32. In the end, she touched five one-hundredth of a second off her 2023 national record (1:53.38).

O’Dell led off the winning 200 and 400 free relays by breaking her county records for the 50 and 100 freestyles. She blasted leadoff splits of 22.17 and 48.01, respectively.

The Cal-bound senior also touched first in the 100 backstroke in a Division 1 record 51.09.

“I actually enjoy racing in 100 degree weather,” O’Dell said. “The heat keeps my body loose and keeps me warmed up … but it definitely makes you more dehydrated so I’ve been drinking water all day.”

“I couldn’t be happier with my performances,” the three-time O.C. swimmer of the year added. “I’m just excited to roll into next week (at state) and see how much better I can do.”

Donned in neon orange-painted nails and gold earrings, O’Dell saved her most emotion for cheering teammates in the 400 relay. The relay featured sophomore Eileen Song, freshman Valentina Delgado and senior Sammy Cummins, one of O’Dell closest friends.

“She was fighting so hard,” O’Dell said of Cummins, who held off Mira Costa by about two-tenths of a second for the win in 3:21.38.

In the 200 free relay, O’Dell teamed with seniors Chloe Stinson, Victoria Mori and Gracyn Aquino for a Division 1 record 1:30.72.

Hitchens blazed O.C. records in the 100 free (43.79) and 100 back (47.19) in claiming his first section titles. In the 100 free, the Columbia-bound racer broke the oldest county boys record, the 1994 standard of six-time Olympian Derya Buyukuncu of Woodbridge (43.85).

“I really wanted it,” Hitchens said of the mark. “(The heat) definitely (had) a really big factor … but you can only control so much.”

Maksymowski showed his grit in the 200 free relay. Not long after winning the 500 free in a county-leading 4:23.91 for his second individual title, the Texas-committed junior split a 20.12 anchor to out-touch JSerra by one-hundredth of a second for the victory in 1:22.47.

“The biggest part is that I’m doing it for my team,” said Maksymowski, who raced with Hitchens, freshman Eli Siniak and senior Will Chen. “That 500 was tough. I couldn’t breathe. My arms felt like jelly.”

How significant was Maksymowski’s touch against JSerra?

In team points, Northwood edged Loyola 265-264 for second place, the Timberwolves’ highest finish since they won Division 1 in 2018.

JSerra earned some revenge by capturing the 400 free relay in a school-record 3:00.75.

The Lions, seeded third, took an early lead with a strong leadoff by Nolan Baker, who split a 44.83. Noah Ryznar (46.16), Connor Colman (45.21) and Taylor Bell (44.55) held from there as the Lions won their first section relay title in boys.

“We were angry,” Ryznar said in a reference to the 200 free relay.

In other highlights, Fountain Valley’s Alyssa Ton swept the 200 (1:44.12) and 500 (4:43.39) freestyles in lifetime-best times on her 16th birthday. The Barons finished third in team points, two places higher than last year.

“I’m really proud of the team,” said Fountain Valley senior Kaitlyn Nguyen, who took second in the 200 IM (1:59.63).

Newport Harbor’s Connor Ohl captured the 50 free in 20.04, just missing his second 19-second effort.

Tesoro’s Liam Mulroy, a senior bound for Penn State, won the butterfly in 48.43.

Mater Dei’s Elonzo Santos, a junior committed to Army, won the breaststroke in a county-leading 54.09. He ranks third in county history in the event.