Menlo-Atherton girls swim to the top with exciting finishes

Unbeaten Palo Alto boys and girls continue to dominate De Anza Division swim standings with wins over Los Altos

Not only is the Menlo-Atherton girls' swim team winning, but the Bears are doing it in the most exciting way--waiting until the last moment.

For the second straight meet, Menlo-Atherton picked up key second- and third-place performances to hold off Hillsdale, 86-84, to remain atop the Peninsula Athletic League dual-meet standings at 2-0.

Unlike its previous 87 1/2 to 82 1/2 win over San Mateo, Menlo-Atherton waited until the final relay to beat Hillsdale.

With the meet's outcome hanging in the balance, M-A 400-yard free relay team of Becky Boeddiker, Lindsey Bischel, Suzie White and Ali Kleinerman splashed home first in 3:56.83 to snatch victory away from the visitors. It was the Bears' fastest relay time of the season.

Nearly as important as that victory was the third-place finish of M-A's other 400 relay squad of Laura Borcich, Sarah Fick, Dina Connor and T.J. Kammerer.

Angela Hook captured the 50 free (26.06) and 100 free (56.72) and led off the Bears' winning 200 free relay squad (1:48.51) to contribute to M-A's triumph.

Elsewhere in girls' swimming, Palo Alto (5-0, 7-0) captured its 38th straight dual-meet victory by splashing past host Los Altos, 146-44, in a SCVAL De Anza Division meet.

Sophomore Haley Champion posted fast times in winning the 50 free (24.90) and 100 free (55.47) in addition to anchoring the Vikings' winning 200 medley relay squad (1:56.44). Teammate Caroline Kilian won the 200 free in a season-best 1:52.91, took the 100 fly in 1:00.1 and swam on both the 200 medley and 400 free relay teams that won.

A third double-winner for Paly was sophomore Danielle Page, who won both the 200 IM (2:17.90) and 100 breast (1:11.00).

In boys swimming, Menlo-Atherton (3-1) stayed a loss back of unbeaten Menlo school with a close 89-81 PAL win over Hillsdale. In in the girls' meet, the Bears snatched the win away by winning the 400 free relay with a team of Dan Pickard, Greg Whittake, Scott Hagerman and Bob Studley touching home in 3:43.52.

In the SCVAL De Anza Division, Palo Alto (4-0, 7-0) romped past Los Altos, 115-71. Paly senior Jeff Hopwood lowered his Central Coast Section-leading time in the 200 IM to 1:56.91, won the 100 back in 55.78 and swam on two winning relays.

Paly freshman Eric DiIulio was equally impressive with wins in the 200 free (1:47.16) and 500 free (4:52.19), in addition to a pair of relay legs.

Tennis

Menlo-Atherton (7-3) stayed within reach of first-place Aragon (7-2) in the tight PAL race with a 7-0 blanking of Woodside last week. The Bears would have been alone in first at this point, but had to forfeit a win over Carlmont due to a mixup with the singles lineup. Otherwise, M-A would be 8-2.

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