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Ripon 3-peats
Sea Lions defend MVSL crown; Manteca sweeps 11-12 boys
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Rachel Holmstrom of the Manteca Dolphins dives into the pool on Lane 4 at the start of the 50-yard butterfly race in the 13-14 girls division. - photo by Ike Dodson

The Ripon Sea Lions’ reign continues, as the longtime program clinched its third straight conference title in the Mid-Valley Swim League Championships Saturday at Oakdale High.

The Sea Lions were led by 16 top-three finishers in the high-point standings, and among them six captured individual high-point titles.

Ripon amassed 1,073.5 points, with the Hughson Sea Dogs taking second with 988.5. The Manteca Dolphins, meanwhile, compiled 628.5 points for a fourth-place finish to wrap up a solid 2011 season.

Manteca did much of its damage in the 11-12 boys division, while Matthew Trejo completed an undefeated run in the 7-8 boys circuit.

Scott Tolman and Ty Wells shared top honors in the 11-12 boys high-point standings, with each turning in 27 points. Kyle Merkle completed the all-Manteca sweep by taking third with 20 points.

Tolman broke a meet record in the 50-yard breast stroke with a time of 32.77 seconds. He also won the 100 freestyle (1 minute, 3.82 seconds) and 100 individual medley (1:14.59).

Wells was victorious in the 50 butterfly (29.34), 50 backstroke (32.34) and 50 freestyle (26.74).

Merkle joined forces with both Tolman and Wells on the winning 200 medley and 200 free relays. Jacob Evans rounded out the Dolphins’ 200 medley team, and Jake Kramer was a part of the 200 free quartet.

Trejo ruled the 7-8 boys division, taking first in the 50 free (33.17), 25 fly (17:00) and 25 free (15.06). He broke his own program records in the 25 and 50 free events.

Also cracking the top three for Manteca were Delaney Brubaker (6-under girls, second), Mallory Brubaker (9-10 girls, second) and Darrel Yamamura (13-14 boys, tied third).

Julia Saling won the 50 breast in 34.80.

Ripon had three swimmers earn outright individual titles: EJ Lewis (6-under boys), Jalyn Vander Wal (11-12 girls) and Emma Lewis (11-12 girls). Rosie Vaughn (15-16 girls), Corey Winter (15-16 boys) and Matt Vasquez (17-18 boys) finished tied for first in their respective divisions.

Other top-three high-point finishers for Ripon were: Reese Hansen (6-under girls, second), Steven Barrios (6-under boys, third), Lucas Esenwein (7-8 boys, tied third), Noah Esenwein (9-10 boys, second), Hannah Sweet (11-12 girls, tied third), Kennedy Gonzales (15-16 girls, tied third) and Kaylie Sheaffer (15-16 girls, tied third).

Several Sea Lions shattered MVSL meet records in the process.

Winter eclipsed the old meet record in the 100 fly in 57.80. The old mark of 58.22 was established in 2007.

Vaughn is the new meet record holder in the 50 breast, as her time (32.07) bested the previous mark (32.31) set in 2000.

The 7-8 girls 100 freestyle relay team of Sydney Vieira, Kylee Zador, Beidleman and Fasani checked in at 1:06.41. A Tracy Tritons foursome held the previous record of 1:07.61 set last year.