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Northwood boys swimming coach Alex Nieto sometimes describes his excitement level by using a year as a benchmark.
If he mentions 2018, ears perk up.
Nieto said the Timberwolves’ potential and drive this spring remind him of 2018, the season the Pacific Coast League school raced to CIF-SS Division 1 and CIF State championships.
“(The boys) are more determined this year to finish the job they started when they were all freshmen,” he said. “(It’s a) stronger (2018) vibe.”
Northwood High swimmer senior Derek Hitchens, 18, at Northwood High School in Irvine on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Northwood High swimmer, junior Andrew Maksymowski, 16, at Northwood High School in Irvine on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Northwood High swimmer, senior Will Chen, 17, at Northwood High School in Irvine on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Northwood High swimmer, senior Will Chen, 17, at Northwood High School in Irvine on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Northwood High swimmer, junior Andrew Maksymowski, 16, at Northwood High School in Irvine on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Northwood High swimmer senior Derek Hitchens, 18, at Northwood High School in Irvine on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Northwood High swim coach Alex Nieto at Northwood High School in Irvine on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Northwood High swimmers, from left, Derek Hitchens, Andrew Maksymowski, and Will Chen at Northwood High School in Irvine on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Show Caption1 of 8Northwood High swimmer senior Derek Hitchens, 18, at Northwood High School in Irvine on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)
ExpandIn 2022, when a few of Northwood’s seniors were freshmen, the squad finished fifth in Division 1. The past two seasons, the Timberwolves climbed to third.
Their aspirations are higher this season.
Northwood returns of three-fourth of its Orange County record 400-yard freestyle relay (2 minutes, 58.04 seconds) in seniors Derek Hitchens and Will Chen and junior Andrew Maksymowski.
All three of the Irvine Novaquatics’ club swimmers are committed to college programs. Hitchens (Columbia) and Chen (Cornell) are headed to the Ivy League while Maksymowski is committed to Texas and coach Bob Bowman.
Maksymowski and Hitchens are the county’s lone returning first-team All-County boys in individual events.
Nieto’s optimism extends beyond the trio. The team has added two of Orange County’s top freshmen in Eli Siniak and Michael Wang.
Siniak’s sprint profile includes a 55.87 in the 100 breaststroke, a 20.90 in the 50 free and 50.27 in the butterfly. Wang’s resume has a 1:39.80 in the 200 freestyle, a 50.59 in the butterfly and a 21.20 in the 50 free.
Nieto also is high in freshman Liam von Schonfeldt and sophomores William Hong and Brandon Dee.
“We may be a smaller team by historical numbers due to the construction at Northwood but this team is as competitive as any that has competed for the Northwood banner,” he said.
TOP TEAMS TO WATCH
BOYS
1. Santa Margarita: The four-time defending CIF-SS Division 1 champion graduated several top seniors but could have its deepest team. The Eagles have won the past two state titles.
2. Northwood: The Timberwolves are seeking “redemption” in the Pacific Coast League after Portola’s stunning title last season.
3. Mater Dei: The Monarchs could have one of their strongest teams with the duo of Elonzo Santos (Army commit) and Leonel Cerda (Cornell).
GIRLS
1. Santa Margarita: The 10-time defending CIF-SS Division 1 champion might have its best team. The Eagles, who have has won five straight state titles, are loaded once again with seniors Teagan O’Dell, Gracyn Aquino and Chloe Stinson leading the way.
2. Fountain Valley: The combination of Kaitlyn Nguyen and Alyssa Ton make the Barons a contender in the Sunset League.
3. Woodbridge: Tanja Amizic and Bella Parker lead the Warriors in the Pacific Coast League but Irvine and Portola loom as challengers.
TOP SWIMMERS AND DIVERS TO WATCH
BOYS
Derek Hitchens, Northwood, Sr.
The Columbia commit is arguably the county’s most versatile male swimmer and a threat to break Derya Buyukuncu’s 1994 county record in the 100 freestyle (43.85).
Andrew Maksymowski, Northwood, Jr.
The Texas commit is the reigning CIF-SS Division 1 champion in the 200 (1:35.51) and 500 (4:22.64) freestyles but also possesses plenty of speed for the 50 free.
Elonzo Santos, Mater Dei, Jr.
The Army commit post a sizzling 53.90 in the 100 breaststroke at the recent California-Nevada sectional.
Grant Schneider, Capistrano Valley Christian, Sr.
The reigning state champion diver signed with Stanford.
Peter Vu, Fountain Valley, Jr.
The Princeton commit can blaze in the multiple freestyle events and breaststroke.
GIRLS
Gracyn Aquino, Santa Margarita, Sr.
The Cal commit is the reigning CIF-SS Division 1 champion in the 50 freestyle (22.65).
Zoe de Fabrique, San Clemente, Jr.
The Indiana commit is among the county’s best distance freestylers. Also watch for senior Sydney Willson of JSerra, junior Lucy Flynn of Villa Park and sophomore Chloe Teger of Villa Park.
Kaitlyn Nguyen, Fountain Valley, Sr.
The USC commit is one of the county’s best in the breaststroke and individual medley.
Bianca Nwaizu, Calvary Chapel, So.
The transfer from Liberty Christian clocked a 59.73 in the 100 breaststroke at West Speedo Winter Juniors in Texas in December. The time was faster than her first-place touch of 1:00.23 at state last season.
Teagan O’Dell, Santa Margarita, Sr.
The three-time Register girls swimmer of the year and Cal signee posted several times under county record standards at the West Speedo Winter Juniors in Texas in December.
Alyssa Ton, Fountain Valley, So.
Ton clocked several strong times at the recent Rose Bowl meet, including a 49.05 in the 100 freestyle, 53.81 in the butterfly and 1:58.65 in the 200 IM.
NOTES
Villa Park junior Lucy Flynn has committed to Arizona while Troy senior Luke Leon Guerrero has committed to UNLV. …
Orange County’s stellar class of sophomore girls includes Corona del Mar’s Sofia Szymanowski, a top breaststroker and freestyler. …
Two more freestylers to watch: Villa Park junior Jay Hickman and Edison senior Gaby Kelly, a UC Santa Barbara commit. …
The Pacific Coast Conference will be split into the Pacific Coast and Pacific Hills leagues. …
Beckman’s girls and Irvine’s boys won the Hinman Relays, formerly known as the Irvine City Relays. …
The Capistrano Valley Relays are Wednesday through Friday at Capistrano Valley High. …
Santa Margarita has added the Winterfest at Mt. SAC on March 14-15 to its schedule. That’s the same weekend of the Mission Viejo Invitational. …
Mt. SAC’s Spring Meet of Champions is April 11-12. Northwood’s boys are again expected to enter the meet.
Mt. SAC coach and meet director Marc Ruh said both meets have grown to about 1,900 to 2,100 swimmers. …
The 51st Foothill Swim Games are April 9-11. …
The CIF-SS swimming championships are May 6-10 at Mt. SAC. The diving finals are April 30 and May 1 at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex in Mission Viejo. …
The CIF State swimming and diving championships are May 15-17 at Clovis West High. …
Mater Dei has a dynamic girls diving team. Junior Gianna Kenrick is committed to Kentucky while Morgan Lalonde signed with LSU.
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