By Phillip Brents
Posted May 15, 2005

The Granite Hills High School girls swim team has put up some pretty amazing numbers over the past four years, including an undefeated 20-0 league Grossmont South League record. During that span, the Eagles have gone 48-1-1 overall.

But the East County team still finds itself in the wake of most North County schools, especially squads from the Palomar League that seem to have an annual lock on the San Diego Section Division I championship.

Granite Hills girls swim coach Cathy Elgas, however, has decided that in order for her team to succeed, it must follow the example set by the powerhouse North County teams. Thus far, it has been working.

"Our success comes from just getting a lot of kids going year-round and training more than just during the high school season. Plus, we have depth," said Elgas, whose team overpowered the field at this year’s Grossmont South League championship meet with a 423-point total, finishing nearly 150 points ahead of runner-up Valhalla and nearly doubling the score on third-place Helix.

The Eagles are looking to excel at this weekend’s Division I finals. Granite Hills finished fifth last year and could have the firepower to challenge for a top four finish this season.

"Our goals this season were to win league and to place top four in CIF. At CIF, you’re competing against the North County schools that are mostly club swimmers. But we’ve got six club swimmers, so that helps. To have a good team at CIF, you need to have club swimmers," Elgas said.

The Eagles will find out how they stack up against the best teams in the section Saturday, May 21, at Rancho Bernardo High School. The Division I meet starts at 3 p.m., following the Division II meet at 9 a.m.

But working hard is only part of Granite Hills’ formula for success. The Eagles are also having fun, Elgas said. That is easily demonstrated by the size of this year’s team: 91 girls. The Granite Hills coach said she carries only 18 on the varsity team. Thus, making the varsity cut is a big deal at Granite Hills.

"I moved three kids up to varsity. I never thought I’d do that because it’s so difficult to be on our varsity team," Elgas said.

The Granite Hills quartet of seniors Stephanie McQuade (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), Justine Elgas (100 freestyle) and Ashley Dawson (50 freestyle) and sophomore Christine Johnson (200 IM and 100 breaststroke) turned in a spectacular showing by combining to win six of the eight contested individual events at the May 14 league championship meet at Helix High School.

Elgas, McQuade and Johnson have all gone undefeated in at least one event this season. All have automatic CIF qualifying times and all have aspirations of competing — and doing well — by placing among the top six finishers in the championship finals. Johnson set a league record in the breaststroke last year.

Johnson and Elgas were part of last year’s second-place 200 freestyle relay team. Among individuals, Elgas was fifth in both the 100 freestyle (55.64) and 100 breaststroke (1:09.50), while McQuade was fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:20.81) and Johnson was sixth in the 200 IM (2:14.42). Granite Hills finished fifth in the 200 medley relay.  

Another standout has been senior diver Sarah Dunaway, who set what may be a league record with 464.25 points in winning this year’s Grossmont South League title. Dunaway is the top-seeded diver for Friday’s Division I championship meet at Mesa College (4:30 p.m. start).

The Granite Hills program is also producing its benefits. Both Elgas and McQuade are slated to compete in college programs next season. Elgas will attend Loyola Marymont while McQuade, who has the talent to compete at the NCAA level, will swim for Grossmont College next season.

Valhalla (275 points) finished second to Granite Hills (423 points) at the league finals meet. The Norsemen won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:58.27 to edge the Eagles (3:58.90) and finished second to Granite Hills (1:59.75) in the 200 medley relay with a 2:03.61 time but failed to win any individual events.

Top individual performances for Valhalla were turned in by junior Katie Teschler, who finished second in both the 50 freestyle (26.59) and 100 freestyle (58.49), sophomore Amanda Chapin, who finished second in both the 200 freestyle (2:04.52) and 500 freestyle (5:38.91), freshman Kristen Beat, who took second in the 100 butterfly (1:08.62), and freshman Hanna Basler, who placed second in the 100 backstroke (1:08.67). sophomore Samantha Lusteg finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.10).

Helix (223), Monte Vista (129), Steele Canyon (97) and Mt. Miguel (57) rounded out the team standings.

For Monte Vista, sophomore Andrea Thiltgen won the 100 backstroke in 1:04.13 while placing second in the 200 IM (2:20.73). Helix junior Treichelle Busseau rounded out this year’s parade of league finals champions by winning the 100 butterfly in 1:04.98.

For Steele Canyon, freshman An Dang placed fifth in both the 100 freestyle (59.59) and 100 breaststroke (1:14.72).