Newman swimmer finishes 2nd in races at state meet

Cardinal Newman swimmer Eric McDonell celebrates with coach Allie Davis after setting a personal record in his portion of the 400-yard relay at the North Bay League championships on April 25. Kent Porter — The Press Democrat

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By Kienan O’Doherty

the press democrat

California’s high school swimming and diving championships over the weekend included strong showings from local competitors.

Cardinal Newman senior Eric McDonell led the way with two second-place finishes in Saturday’s finals at Clovis. Competing in paralympic class III swimming events, McDonell took second in both the boys’ 50- and 100-yard freestyle races.

In doing so, McDonell set personal records in both. His time of 25.78 in the 50 free broke his old record of 26.20, while his 100 time of 55.60 broke his old mark of 56.20.

McDonell, who lost most of his left leg in 2021 when he was struck in a horrific crash while riding his bike, has also played football and competed in wrestling for Cardinal Newman.

“I feel really accomplished,” McDonell said afterward. “All of the work I’ve put in, especially this year, and being able to get my best times ever, I feel amazing. I gave it my best and I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

Technology High School freshman Lucas Young was the other Sonoma County swimmer who made it to the final day, competing in the 100-yard breaststroke race. Young delivered a time of 55.82 in the preliminary round as the No. 17 seed.

He then blazed to a time of 55.40 in the final, earning him 11th place.

Newman junior Sienna Menconi, a UC Santa Barbara commit, qualified as the first alternate for the girls’ 100-yard freestyle final with a mark of 51.31, but no one dropped out from the final heats.

Petaluma’s Lucy Howell, who had qualified in the girls’ 100-yard backstroke, swam a 56.76 in the preliminary heats, missing out on the final but placing 24th overall.

Analy’s Travis Black had qualified for two events at state, the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard backstroke. He was the 27th seed in the 100 back and posted a time of 51.02 in the prelims, missing out on the finals.

In the 200 free prelims, his time of 1:41.30 trailed his qualifying time of 1:39.74 and he finished 30th.

American Canyon’s Juliana Bondoc placed 34th in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:05.75 in the preliminary round.