It came down to the last leg of the last relay, when Dos Pueblos anchor Nikko Carrillo came from behind to lead the Chargers to a win — by 0.59 seconds — in the 400 freestyle relay over San Marcos.
That was enough for DP to clinch the boys meet by the slender score of 94-92 to stay undefeated on the season and in the Channel League at 4-0.
“Nikko Carrillo won both of his (individual) events and helped secure the win by overtaking San Marcos’ anchor leg in the 400 freestyle relay,” Charger coach Kendall Kuga said.
“Without that win, the Royals would have won the meet.”
Meanwhile, the San Marcos girls enjoyed a 109-70 team win to stay undefeated, in no small thanks to double-event winners Sierra Tallman (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and Elaia Hamilton (50 freestyle and 100 freestyle). Both of them also helped winning relays.
“I was really proud of Elaia,” San Marcos girls coach Chuckie Roth said. “She has been swimming well and training better. She had a great start to her 100 free and was able to pull out the win versus a very competitive field. Her time of 53.4 is very competitive at this point in the season.”
San Marcos boys coach Peera Sukavivatanachai had no reason to hang his head over the close, fiercely competitive boys meet.
“Very proud of my boys’ resiliency and positive outlook through the meet,” coach Peera said. “There were times where we were trailing behind by 12 points, or untouched by half a second in a few races.
“But we overcame those struggles early-mid meet and powered through our last few races to close the gap. Unfortunately, we fell short in the 4×100 free relay by 0.59 seconds to secure our win.”
Boys highlights:
Dos Pueblos
Cooper Costello was a double-winner, in the 200 freestyle with a 1:50.21 and the 100 butterfly with 50.53. He also was part of the winning medley and 400 free relays.
Carrillo, aside from pulling out the 400 free relay win, won the 200 IM in 1:56 and the 100 backstroke in 52.42.
William Robinson won the 50 free in 23.27.
San Marcos
Alexi Stapf won the 100 freestyle in 51.23.
Jaran Depew won the 500 freestyle in 4:59.27.
Pierce Rybicek won the 100 breaststroke in 1:05.40
The 200 free relay team of Jaran Depew, Jacob Magid, Nic Prentice, Alexi Stapf won in 1:34.56.
Jack Cunnison, in his first time back from ear surgery, won the boys’ diving
Girls highlights:
Dos Pueblos
Brynn Graham won the 200 IM in 2:08.41.
Megan Garner won the 100 backstroke in 1:04.45.
Kay Ng-Taylor won the 100 breaststroke in 1:14.17.
San Marcos
The 200 medley relay won, with Steelman, Lucy Haaland-Ford, Makena Stretz, Hamilton, 1:54.24.
Tallman won the 200 freestyle in 1:57.75 and the 100 butterfly in 59.06.
Hamilton won the 50 free in 25.20 and the 100 freestyle in 53.42.
Taylor Steelman won the 500 freestyle in 5:09.01
The 200 Free Relay team of Hamilton, Sophia Panossian, Tallman, Sophia Hall and the 400 style rely team of Reagan McEachen, Panossian, Tallman, Steelman were winners.
Bridgette Cunnison and Kate Edgar finished 1-2 in diving.
“We had so many athletes step up and grab valuable points,” Roth said. “I am proud of them all. They all make each other better and love their dedication to the team.”