The Otay Ranch High School swim program was established in 2004 and it hasn’t taken long for the Mustangs to float to the top. Otay Ranch won the South Bay League girls championship in 2006 and finished runner-up in the Mesa League standings this season while the Mustang boys squad captured its third league title this year to build on previous titles won in 2006 in the South Bay League and 2008 in the Mesa League.
Otay Ranch’s boys team finished 5-0 in Mesa League duals this season, 8-1 overall. The 2010 Mustang girls team finished 4-1 in Mesa League duals, 6-2 overall.
Junior Mike Kowalski has earned Mesa League boys Swimmer of the Year honors the past two seasons. He placed second in the 50-yard freestyle at last month’s San Diego Section championship meet with an All-American consideration time of 21.36 and also recorded a runner-up finish in the 100 butterfly in 51.97.
Both times were new school records and new Mesa League records, according to ORHS coach Ernie Medina.
Kowalski has gone undefeated in the butterfly event for the past three years in dual meet competition and has only lost once in the 50 free in dual meets over that same time frame. He won both events at this year’s Mesa League championship meet.
Juan Robles set a school record in placing second in the 100 backstroke at the CIF finals in 55.01. Robles also finished 14th in the 200 individual medley.
Other top individual place-finishes at this year’s Division I finals included Sabrina Ogden (11th in the 100 butterfly 11th,20th in the 200 IM); Sarah Medina(13th in the 200 freestyle, 14th in the 50 freestyle); and Mariela Rodriguez (20th in the 200 freestyle, 24th in the 500 freestyle).
Medina won the 500 freestyle at this year’s Mesa League finals.
In relay evnets at this yedar’s CIF championship meet, Otay Ranch finished 11th in the boys 200 freestyle relay, 13th in the boys 200 medley relay, 14th in the girls 200 freestyle relay and 16th in the girls 400 freestyle relay.
