News Summary
Santa Margarita’s swim teams achieved remarkable success at the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships at Mt. SAC, with Teagan O’Dell breaking records. The girls’ team won their 11th consecutive title, while the boys’ team secured their fifth. O’Dell’s outstanding performance included new county records and Division 1 titles. Her teammates also excelled, contributing to the historic achievement of Santa Margarita in high school swimming.
Santa Margarita dominated the CIF-SS Division 1 Championships held at Mt. SAC, with swimmer Teagan O’Dell achieving remarkable milestones. Amidst soaring temperatures nearing 100 degrees, O’Dell set two county records and two Division 1 marks, contributing significantly to both the girls’ and boys’ teams’ successes.
The Santa Margarita girls’ team clinched their 11th consecutive championship with a total score of 418.5 points, matching the record established by Mission Viejo during the 1970s and 1980s. Meanwhile, the boys’ team secured their fifth consecutive title, accumulating 321.5 points, while Northwood finished as the runner-up with 265 points.
Teagan O’Dell had an impressive showing, winning her seventh and eighth individual section titles. She came close to breaking her own national high school record in the 200-yard individual medley, clocking in at 1:53.43. Her split for the first 100 yards, comprised of butterfly and backstroke, was 51.36 seconds, almost a second faster than her national record pace. O’Dell also set county records in the 50 freestyle at 22.17 seconds and the 100 freestyle at 48.01 seconds. Moreover, she claimed victory in the 100 backstroke with a Division 1 record time of 51.09 seconds.
O’Dell expressed that she enjoyed racing in the heat as it helped keep her body loose and warmed up. Her success was complemented by her teammates in relay events, including Eileen Song, Valentina Delgado, and Sammy Cummins, who all played pivotal roles in the overall team performance.
The girls’ team also shattered the Division 1 record in the 200 freestyle relay, achieving a time of 1:30.72. On the boys’ side, notable performances included Derek Hitchens from Northwood, who set county records in the 100 freestyle with a time of 43.79 seconds and the 100 back in 47.19 seconds. Hitchens’ 100 freestyle finish broke the previous record held by Derya Buyukuncu since 1994.
In addition, Andrew Maksymowski from Northwood won the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:23.91 and contributed to a narrow victory in the 200 freestyle relay. A highlight of the event was JSerra securing their first section relay title in boys’ swimming with a school-record time of 3:00.75 in the 400 freestyle relay.
Other standout performances at the championships included Alyssa Ton of Fountain Valley, who celebrated her 16th birthday by sweeping the 200 and 500 freestyles. Additionally, Newport Harbor’s Connor Ohl won the 50 freestyle with a finishing time of 20.04 seconds, while Mater Dei’s Elonzo Santos claimed victory in the breaststroke with a county-leading time of 54.09 seconds.
The CIF-SS Division 1 championships showcased tremendous talent and remarkable achievements among high school swimmers, with Santa Margarita leading the way with a historic performance. The accomplishments of Teagan O’Dell and her teammates not only solidify their legacy in the sport but also inspire future generations of swimmers in the region.
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Additional Resources
- Orange County Register: Scores and Player Stats for Saturday, May 10
- Wikipedia: Swimming
- Orange County Register: Teagan O’Dell Leads Santa Margarita
- Google Search: Teagan O’Dell swimming
- Orange County Register: Top Times and Records in Swimming
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Swimming (Sport)
- Orange County Register: Graduation 2025 Schedule
- Google News: Orange County high school graduation 2025
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