CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championships: Finals Live Recap

CIF Southern Section Division 1 Championships

• May 7-9, 2026
• Walnut, California
• SCY (25 yards), Prelims/Finals (9 per heat)
• Live Results Available on Meet Mobile: “2026 CIF-SS Division 1”
• Prelims Recap

The CIF Sectional meets are happening this weekend, and the Southern Section features the girls’ State Champions from last season, Santa Margarita along with a few big names in the world of high school swimming.

The prelims results saw a few major swims across the board, and we are hopefully in for a fun finals session tonight. Follow along for live updates.

Girls 200 Medley Relay

• Meet Record: 1:39.56, Santa Margarita (2022)
• NFHS Record: 1:36.98, Carmel (2023)

Top 3 Teams

1. West Ranch — 1:43.55
2. Santa Margarita — 1:43.74
3. San Clemente — 1:44.51

The West Ranch girls earned the top time in the 200 medley relay, swimming 1:43.55 to win a close race against the Santa Margarita girls team, who swam 1:43.74 for 2nd place.

The two teams were locked in a tight battle after the backstroke legs. West Ranch’s Nadine Fernando and Santa Margarita’s Serena Ye both led off in 26.40, touching in an exact tie heading into the breaststroke leg.

Emma Hussein pulled the West Ranch team into a strong lead, splitting 28.08 to touch more than a second ahead of Haylee Pramono’s 29.42 for Santa Margarita.

The fly saw Kalun Zhang split 25.76 for West Ranch, holding off Santa Margarita’s Daniela Scott, who split 24.60.

On the freestyle, West Ranch’s Emma Piltzer and Santa Margarita’s Angela Lim split 23.31 and 23.32 respectively to maintain their 1st and 2nd place positions, finishing just under two tenths apart.

The bronze medal went to san Clemente in 1:44.51 with their team of Wren Collins (26.46), Neva Phillips (29.28), Macie Weingarten (25.11), and Zoe DeFabrique (23.84).

Woodbridge’s Tanja Amizic had the fastest backstroke split in the field of 25.99 to lead off their 4th place relays.

Boys 200 Medley Relay

• Meet Record: 1:29.08, Santa Margarita (2024)
• NFHS Record: 1:26.67, Jacksonville Bolles (2025)

Top 3 Teams

1. Santa Margarita — 1:30.45
2. Corona del Mar — 1:32.60
3. University — 1:33.66

The Santa Margarita boys 200 medley relay won in dominant fashion, touching in 1:30.45 to win the event by more than two seconds over Corona del Mar’s 2nd place time of 1:32.60.

Sam Zhou led off in 23.01. Taylor Thongintra swam the breaststroke leg in 24.97. Darren Nguyen was 22.50 on the fly, and Bennett Korner split 19.97 on the freestyle to earn gold medal.

Corona del Mar’s relay consisted of Henry Chang (24.13), Ethan Lim (24.25), Radomir Shostak (23.15), and Grant Christian (21.07).

University’s Dylan Mac (24.09), Chris Lin (26.07), Tiger Chai (22.61), and Brendon Van Erp (20.89) swam 1:33.66 for 3rd.

Northwood’s Eli Siniak split a blistering 22.00 on the fly leg of their 7th place medley relay, a little more than a tenth behind the 21.89 he split in the prelims.

Girls 200 Freestyle

• Meet Record: 1:43.01, Kathryn McLaughlin (2015)
• NFHS Record: 1:42.81, Dagny Knutson (2008)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Alyssa Ton (FOVA) — 1:45.15
2. Charlotte Milkie (SNTG) — 1:49.01
3. Zoe DeFabrique (SCLE) — 1:49.83

Fountain Valley High School junior Alyssa Ton repeated her first place finish from last year’s meet, swimming 1:45.15 to win the girls 200 freestyle.

Ton, who is committed to Tennessee for 2027, touched almost four seconds ahead of the rest of the field, splitting 24.13/26.55/27.13/27.34. Her time was about a second off the lifetime best 1:44.12 she swam to win the event last year.

Santiago High School’s Charlotte Milkie, who is committed to USC for 2027, swam 1:49.01 for 2nd place, about two-and-a-half seconds over her best of 1:46.48 from the Winter Junior Championships in December.

The bronze medal went to San Clemente senior Zoe Defabrique. She touched in 1:49.83, about a tenth off her best 1:49.76 from April of last year. Defabrique is committed to Indiana for the fall.

Boys 200 Freestyle

• Meet Record: 1:33.26, Grant Shoults (2016)
• NFHS Record: 1:30.46, Maximus Williamson (2025)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Andrew Maksymowski (NRWO) — 1:34.70
2. Liam Thomas (SNMR) — 1:37.28
3. Michael Wang (NRWO) — 1:37.65

Northwood senior Andrew Maksymowski earned a repeat win in the boys 200 freestyle, touching in 1:34.70 to finish almost a second faster than the 1:35.61 he swam in 2025. This was also a new lifetime best for him, taking one hundredth off the 1:34.71 mark he set in April. He is committed to USC for the fall.

San Marino senior Liam Thomas  set a massive personal best to finish 2nd, touching in 1:37.28 to take almost two seconds off the 1:39.03 mark he set last month at the Rio Hondo League Championships. He is committed to Davidson College.

Northwood sophomore Michael Wang swam 1:37.65 for the bronze medal, about half-a-second off his personal best 1:37.17, which he set in March.

Girls 200 IM

• Meet Record: 1:51.43, Teagan O’Dell (2025)
• NFHS Record: 1:53.38, Teagan O’Dell (2023)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Emma Hussein (WERN) — 1:57.23
2. Haylee Pramono (STMA) — 2:01.33
3. Sofia Szymanowski (CODM) — 2:02.16

The girls’ 200 IM went to West Ranch sophomore Emma Hussein in 1:57.23. She split 25.50/30.21/33.04/28.48 to be the only swimmer under 2:00 in the event, dropping two seconds from her previous best of 1:59.50, which she swam in December of 2024.

Haylee Pramono, a freshman from Santa Margarita, touched 2nd in 2:01.33, about a second add from her lifetime best 2:00.50 from March.

Corona Del Mar junior Sofia Szymanowksi grabbed 3rd in 2:02.16, half-a-second off his lifetime best 2:01.61 from November. Szymanowski is committed to Michigan for 2027.

Boys 200 IM

• Meet Record: 1:44.76, Colin Geer (2023)
• NFHS Record: 1:41.39, David Nolan (2011)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Peter Vu (FOVA) — 1:48.60
2. Cooper Ren (HAWE) — 1:49.02
3. Nolan Weijland (CLSO) — 1:49.96

Fountain Valley senior Peter Vu, a Princeton commit for the class of 2026, swam the top boys’ 200 IM time of 1:48.60. He split 24.22/28.44/29.95/25.99, just missing his lifetime best of 1:48.83 from April of 2025.

Cooper Ren, Harvard Westlake senior, swam 1:49.02 to finish 2nd. His swim was a new personal best time, taking seven tenths off the 1:49.76 he swam at this meet last year to finish 3rd overall. Ren is not committed anywhere for the fall.

Crean Lutheran South junior Nolan Weijland dropped under 1:50 for the first time, swimming 1:49.96 to earn the bronze medal. His previous best was 1:50.95 from last month’s Spring Meet of Champions.

Girls 50 Freestyle

• Meet Record: 21.64, Abbey Weitzeil (2015)
• NFHS Record: 21.56, Julie Mishler (2024)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Gabi Brito (SAMO) — 21.66
2. Ava DeAnda (PORI) — 22.82
3. Isabella Parker (WOBR) — 22.87

Gabi Brito, from Santa Monica High School,had another massive drop in the girls’ 50 freestyle, swimming 21.66 to take another three tenths off the 21.93 mark she swam in prelims. This will move her up to the 3rd fastest 15-16 girl in history in the event, only behind Claire Curzan (21.40) and Rylee Erisman (21.61).

Ava DeAnda, a Cal commit for 2026 from Riverdale Poly-tech, swam 22.82 to picku p the silver medal, four tenths off her best 22.44 from December of 2023.

Woodbridge High School junior Isabella Parker swam 22.87 to take a tenth off her lifetime best 22.98 from March.

Boys 50 Freestyle

• Meet Record: 19.95, Joey Hale (2008)
• NFHS Record: 19.08, Maximus Williamson (2025)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Connor Ohl (NEHA) — 19.96
2. Nolan Baker (JSER) — 20.22
3. Bennett Korner (STMA) — 20.30

Newport Harbor High School’s Connor Ohl swam 19.96 in the boys’ 50 freestyle, missing the 2008 meet record time of 19.95 by just one-hundredth. Ohl, who is primarily a water polo player, was about two tenths off his lifetime best 19.79 from last month’s Sunset Conference Championships.

JSserra Catholic senior Nolan Baker finished 2nd in 20.22, a tenth drop from the 20.32 which he swam at this meet last year.

Santa Margarita senior Bennett Korner touched 3rd in 20.30, a tenth add from his best of 20.20 from March. He is committed to Xavier University for the fall.

Girls 100 Butterfly

• Meet Record: 51.41, Gabriella Brito (2026)
• NFHS Record: 49.24, Claire Curzan (2022)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Gabi Brito (SAMO) — 50.74 **New Meet Record
2. Tori Yamamura (VALE) — 52.55
3. Daniela Scott (STMA) — 55.45

In her 2nd event of the day, Gabi Brito set a massive new meet record time of 50.74 to win the girls’ 100 butterfly. She took more than half-a-second off her prelims record and lifetime best of 51.41.

Brito will move up to the 4th fastest 15-16 girl in history, sitting behind Claire Curzan (49.51), Charlotte Crush (50.00), and Alex Shackell (50.47).

Valencia High School’s Tori Yamamura swam 52.55 for 2nd, a three tenth drop from the 52.83 mark she set at thi smeet last year. She is committed to swim at Mizzou in the fall.

The bronze medal went to Daniela Scott, a sophomore from Santa Margarita High School in 55.45. This was a second add from the 54.86 she set in March.

Boys 100 Butterfly

• Meet Record: 46.00, Alex Valente (2015)
• NFHS Record: 44.97, Scotty Buff (2023)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Ryder Davis (DAMI) — 47.33
2. Sam Zhou (STMA) — 48.35
3. Holden Lee (EDIN) — 48.80

Ryder Davis, a Damien High School senior, won the boys’ 100 butterfly in 47.33. This was almost a two second drop from his previous best of 49.12, which he set in February of this year. He is uncommitted for 2026.

Sam Zhou, a Santa Margarita senior, set a personal best 48.35 to finish 3rd, a tenth faster than the 48.48 he swam in April. He is committed to Claremont McKenna-Harvey Mudd Scripps for 2026.

Edison High School senior, and 2026 Pomona-Pitzer commit, Holden Lee was 3rd in 48.80, a second drop from the 49.37 he swam in April.

Girls 100 Freestyle

• Meet Record: 47.09, Abbey Weitzeil (2015)
• NFHS Record: 46.73, Rylee Erisman (2025)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Isabella Parker (WOBR) — 49.75
2. Ava DeAnda (PORI) — 49.87
3. Tanja Amizic (WOBR) — 50.33

Woodbridge’s Isabella Parker picked up the win in her 2nd individual event of the day, swimming 49.75 in the 100 free, dropping under 50 seconds for the first time. Her previous best stood at 50.63 from April.

Ava DeAnda earned her 2nd silver medal of the day, touching in 49.87, a second off her lifetime best 48.27 from May of 2024.

Tanja Amizic, a 2027 Penn commit from Woodbridge, swam 50.33 for the bronze medal. This was a three-hundredth drop from the 50.36 she swam at the beginning of March.

Boys 100 Freestyle

• Meet Record: 43.28, Rex Maurer (2023)
• NFHS Record: 41.54, Maximus Williamson (2025)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Connor Ohl (NEHA)/Nolan Baker (JSER) — 44.32
2. —
3. Liam Thomas (SNMR) — 44.40

There was a tie for the top spot in the boys’ 100 freestyle. Newport Harbor’s Connor Ohl and JSerra Catholic’s Nolan Baker both swam 44.32 for the top spot, touching just six hundredths ahead of Liam Thomas from San Marino.

Ohl split 21.37/22.95 to come back on Baker, who split 20.98/23.34. Ohl set a new personal best, dropping from his 44.69, which he swam last May.

Baker added three hundredths from his 44.29, which he swam at this meet last year.

Thomas exactly tied his personal best from December.

Girls 500 Freestyle

• Meet Record: 4:39.64, Kaitlin Sandeno (2001)
• NFHS Record: 4:34.78, Dagny Knutson (2008)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Alyssa Ton (FOVA) — 4:44.26
2. Zoe DeFabrique (SCLE) — 4:51.98
3. Charlotte Milkie (SNTG) — 4:54.84

Alyssa Ton picked up her 2nd win of the day, swimming 4:44.26 in the girls’ 500 freestyle to be the only sub 4:50 swimmer in the event.

Her lifetime best stands at 4:43.39 from this meet last year. She split 52.67/57.83/59.07/57.95/57.74 to earn the win.

Zoe DeFabrique was 4:51.98, three seconds off her lifetime best of 4:48.19 from this meet last year.

She touched about three seconds ahead of Charlotte Milkie, who swam 4:54.84 for the bronze medal.

Boys 500 Freestyle

• Meet Record: 4:12.70, Rex Maurer (2023)
• NFHS Record: 4:11.91, Luka Mijatovic (2025)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Andrew Maksymowski (NRWO) — 4:22.85
2. Lucas Jue (POLB) — 4:22.87
3. Grant O’Mara (SNMR) — 4:26.95

Another dual-event winner, Northwood senior Andrew Maksymowski earned his 2nd win of the day, swimming the 500 free in 4:22.85, touching just two hundredths ahead of Lucas Jue‘s 4:22.87.

Maksymowski and Jue traded the lead a few times during the race. On the first 100, Maksymowski split 49.06, picking up a tenth on Jue’s 49.17. The 2nd 100 saw Jue move into the lead, splitting 53.55 to turn two hundredths ahead of Maksymowski, who split 53.68.

After that, Maksymowski moved into the lead, where he remained the rest of the race. He split 54.58/53.36/52.17 to hold off a late charge from Jue who split 54.91/53.39/51.85.

Maksymowski’s swim was four secons off his best of 4:18.06 from December, while Jue added from his 4:21.66 that he swam in November of 2024.

Grant O’Mara won the bronze medal in 4:26.95, a second add from his best of 4:25.39 that he swam in December.

Girls 200 Freestyle Relay

• Meet Record: 1:30.72, Santa Margarita (2025)
• NFHS Record: 1:29.61, Santa Margarita (2023)

Top 3 Teams

1. Santa Margarita — 1:33.98
2. Woodbridge — 1:34.83
3. Santa Monica — 1:35.29

Santa Monica’s ‘A’ relay team of Angela Lim (23.53), Daniela Scott (23.68), Eileen Song (23.36), and Valentina Delgado (23.41) swam the top time of 1:33.98.

They touched a little under a second ahead of Woodbridge’s team of Peyton Ferrero (24.04), Holly Fishburn (23.60), Annie Fishburn (24.49), and Isabella Parker (22.70), who swam 1:34.83 for the silver.

Santa Monica was bolstered by Gabi Brito, who split 21.61 on the anchor leg. Paloma Kimura led off in 24.08. Josephine Deutsch swam 25.32 on the 2nd leg, and Ariana Molina was 24.28 on the 3rd.

Boys 200 Freestyle Relay

• Meet Record: 1:21.66, Loyola (2023)
• NFHS Record: 1:19.27, Jacksonville Bolles (2012)

Top 3 Teams

1. Santa Margarita — 1:21.64
2. Northwood — 1:21.65
3. JSerra — 1:24.10

The boys 200 freestyle relay was one of the closest races of the meet. Ultimately, the Santa Margarita boys team came out victorious, touching in 1:21.64, just one hundredth ahead of Northwood’s time of 1:21.65.

Tyler Lee led off for Santa Margarita in 20.87, touching about two tenths behind Northwood’s Eli Siniak, who swam 20.67 to give them the lead.

Santa Margarita moved into 1st on the next leg when Adam Cuthbert split 20.36, overttaking Northwood’s Max Chen, who split 20.93.

On the 3rd leg, Santa Margarita maintained their lead with Carson Eich splitting 20.32 to give up just five hundredths on Michael Wang from Northwood’s 20.27.

Anchor Bennett Korner split 20.09 to give Santa Margarita the victory, just barely holding off Northwood’s Andrew Maksymowski, who split 19.78 to bring the team home.

JSerra’s team of Nolan Baker (20.75), Connor Colman (20.93), Joseph Wraith (21.32), and Lars Knepper (21.10) touched 3rd in 1:24.10.

Girls 100 Backstroke

• Meet Record: 51.09, Teagan O’Dell (2025)
• NFHS Record: 49.61, Claire Curzan (2022)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Tori Yamamura (VALE) — 55.00
2. Tanja Amizic (WOBR) — 55.19
3. Serena Ye (STMA) — 55.42

The girls’ 100 backstroke went to Valencia High School’s Tori Yamamura in 55.00, just under two tenths ahead of the rest of the final. This swim wasa full second drop from her previous best of 56.10, which she swam at the Winter Junior Championships in December.

Woodbridge’s Tanja Amizic touched 2nd in 55.19. This was a tenth add from her best of 55.06, which she swam in February.

Santa Margarita sophomore Serena Ye finished 3rd in 55.42, a half-second drop from the 56.11 best time she set in March.

Boys 100 Backstroke

• Meet Record: 47.04, Kyle Gornay (2013)
• NFHS Record: 45.08, Will Modglin (2023)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Ryder Davis (DAMI) — 47.99
2. Holden Lee (EDIN) — 49.08
3. Lucas Jue (POLB) — 49.59

The boys 100 backstroke went to Damien High School senior Ryder Davis in 47.99. He won the event by more than a second and saw a massive drop from his previous best of 49.06, which he swam in December.

Edison High School’s Holden Lee swam 49.08 for 2nd, more than half-a-second faster than the 49.71 he swam in April at the Mt. SAC HS Spring Meet of Champions.

Finally, Long Beach Polytechnic senior and 2026 Louisville commit Lucas Jue, earned the bronze medal in 49.59, five hundredths off his lifetime best 49.54 from February.

Girls 100 Breaststroke

• Meet Record: 59.20, Jessica Hardy (2005)
• NFHS Record: 58.35, Kaitlyn Dobler (2020)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Sofia Szymanowski (CODM) — 59.51
2. Emma Hussein (WERN) — 1:01.21
3. Brooke DeMarco (SNTG) — 1:02.81

Corona Del Mar junior Sofia Szymanowski set the top time in the girls 100 breaststroke of 59.51. This swim was a four tenth drop from her previous lifetime best of 59.97, which she swam at the Winter Junior Championships in December.

West Ranch sophomore Emma Hussein touched 2nd in 1:01.21, a full second drop from her previous best of 1:02.46, which she set in November of 2025.

The bronze medal went to Santiago High School sophomore Brooke DeMarco in 1:02.81, a four tenth drop from the 1:02.85 she swam in March.

Boys 100 Breaststroke

• Meet Record: 53.05, Daniel Li (2024)
• NFHS Record: 51.62, Max McHugh (2018)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Ethan Lim (CODM) — 54.85
2. Elonzo Santos (MADE) — 55.26
3. Nolan Weijland (CLSO) — 55.54

Corona Del Mar also won the boys 100 breaststroke with junior Ethan Lim‘s 54.85. Lim was about a tenth over his best of 54.73, which he swam in February.

Mater Dei High School’s Elonzo Santos finished 2nd in 55.26, a little more than a second off his best of 53.90, which he swam in February of 2025. Santos is committed to swim at Army West Point in the fall.

Crean Lutheran South junior Nolan Weijland finished 3rd in 55.54, taking two tenths off the 55.75 he swam in November,

Girls 400 Freestyle Relay

• Meet Record: 3:18.22, Santa Margarita (2022)
• NFHS Record: 3:14.80, Santa Margarita (2022)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Santa Monica — 3:25.23
2. Santa Margarita — 3:26.30
3. Woodbridge — 3:28.36

The Santa Monica girls team earned the win in the 400 freestyle relay, swimming 3:25.23 after coming from almost two seconds back going into the final leg.

Paloma Kimura led off for Santa Monica in 52.02. Arina Molina was 52.79 on the 2nd leg, and Alexis Burrell split 52.90 on the 3rd.

Gabi Brito anchored for the team, diving in almost two seconds behind the Santa Margarita team. She split a blistering 47.52 to take over the lead touch nearly a second ahead.

Santa margarita’s team of Valentina Delgado (52.07), Hannah Campbell (52.26), Serena Ye (51.19), and Eileen Song (50.78) swam 3:26.30 for 2nd.

Woodbridge touched in 3rd at 3:28.36 with Peyton Ferrero (53.44), Tanja Amizic (50.21), Abigail Ko (54.97), and Isabella Parker (49.74).

Boys 400 Freestyle Relay

• Meet Record: 2:57.52, Loyola (2023)
• NFHS Record: 2:53.81, North Allegheny (2018)

Top 3 Finishers

1. Northwood — 2:58.81
2. Santa Margarita — 3:00.40
3. Newport Harbor — 3:04.65

The Northwood boys swam the top time in the 400 freestyle relay, earning the victory in the final event of the meet.

Michael Wang led off in 44.42. Liam Von Schonfeldt swam 45.99 in the 2nd position. Max Chen split 45.31 in 3rd. Andrew Maksymowski anchored the team in a blistering 43.09, the fastest split in the field, earning them the gold medal.

Santa Margarita finished 2nd with Adam Cuthbert (45.83), Jeffrey Chang (43.94), and Bennett Korner (45.07).

Newport Harbor grabbed the bronze medal with Cooper Kelly (46.82), Dash D’Ambrosia (46.61), and Kohl Tang (47.80) on the first three legs. The 50 and 100 free champion Connor Ohl anchored them in 43.42, moving them into 3rd place position with the 2nd fastest split in the field.

The Loyola boys team finished 5th in the relay, locking up their 3rd overall team finish. This will be their 20th consecutive top 3 finish at the D1 CIFSS meet.

Top 5 Girls Teams

1. Santa Margarita — 383.5
2. Woodbridge — 209
3. San Clemente — 204
4. West Ranch — 187.5
5. Santa Monica — 153

Top 5 Boys Teams

1. Santa Margarita — 421
2. Northwood — 236
3. Loyola — 188
4. Woodbridge — 158
5. University — 130.5