By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Ballew, Burke lead Sierra’s sweep against Manteca
Manteca-Sierra swimming
Sierra’s Bianca Fraser won the girls 200-meter individual medley in 1 minute, 10.82 seconds. - photo by DAVE CAMPBELL

 Sierra swept visiting Manteca in Valley Oak League swimming action 117-37 for the girls and 85-39 for the boys.

Phoebe Burke helped lead the Timberwolves girls, winning the 50-meter freestyle (22.50) and 100 freestyle (1:10.82) along with being on the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams.

“We have all been working hard in practice as a team,” Burke said. “We all helped to pick each other up and show the best version of ourselves.”

Other top performers for the Sierra girls were Rylee Danel (200 freestyle, first, 2:29.96; 100 breaststroke, first, 1:27.35); Bianca Fraser (200 individual medley, first, 2:32.78; 100 butterfly, first, 1:10.82); Kenidee Bauer (500 freestyle, first, 7:02.03; 200 freestyle, second, 2:38.09);

Abby Fraser (100 backstroke, first, 1:15.69; 100 butterfly, second, 1:14.70); Angelica Soto (200 individual medley, second, 2:53.63; 100 breaststroke, second, 1:25.27); Charlene Trinh (50 freestyle, second, 29.15); Charlene Trinh (100 freestyle, second, 1:06.90) and Abi Garcia (500 freestyle, second, 7:02.54).

For Manteca, Camilla Tigerino was second in the 100 backstroke (1:25.70) and third in the 200 freestyle (3:72.46). Morgan Silva (100 freestyle, 1:13.26) and Eileen Gutierrez (100 butterfly, 1:17.0) each finished third.

Bayan Ballew paced the Sierra boys with victories in the 50 freestyle (23.16) and 100 freestyle (59.00) along with being on the first-place 200 medley and free relays.

“It feels good to be winning against Manteca High, but I still have a lot of room for improvement,” Ballew said. “I had some high expectations going into this year, and I am hoping to actually set some records, so I definitely need to be doing better by the end of the season.

Other Timberwolves top performers were Joel Alvarez (200 freestyle, first, 2:34.37); Travis Moore (500 freestyle, first, 6:11.83; 200 individual medley, first, 2:32.95); Erik Murillo (100 backstroke, first, 1:19.45; 200 freestyle, second, 2:39.45); Erik Johnson (500 freestyle, second, 7:30.47) and Alex Kachuk (200 individual medley, second, 2:39.45)

The Manteca boys swept the 100 breaststroke with Ethan (no last name provided) winning in 55.52, Andres Barajas taking second (1:27.87) and Brayden Kicenski third (1:29.51). Peter Espinoza won the 100 butterfly (1:02.71) and was second in the 50 freestyle (24.31); Kicenski was third in the 50 freestyle (28.19) and Kalum Kicenski was third in the 100 backstroke (1:44.28).