Duo splashes way to top

McGowan, Presswood excel without teammates

John Donne never met Mallory McGowan or Brandon Presswood.

Had he though, Donne, one of the most influential poets of the Renaissance, most likely never would have said, "No man is an island, entire of itself."

That's because McGowan, a junior at Colusa High, and Presswood, a freshman at Faith Christian, competed this past school year in swimming as the only members of their respective school teams.

Despite not having teammates surrounding them, the pair excelled in the pool, and for their efforts, they have been named the 2007-08 Appeal-Democrat Swimmers of the Year.

"It would have been nice to have teammates there cheering me on," McGowan said, "teammates to bond with and play cards with at away meets".

"It would have been a lot more fun if we had had a team," Presswood said.

Still, McGowan and Presswood had fun making huge splashes in the pool.

McGowan won both the 100-yard breaststroke, with a time of 1 minute, 5.5 seconds, and the 200-yard freestyle, with a 1:57.37 clocking at the Northern Section Masters Meet. She was also named the Section's Female Swimmer of the Year.

Presswood medaled at the Sac-Joaquin Section Masters Meet, placing third in the 100 backstroke with a time of 57.65. He also boasted the top time in the Mid-Valley area in the 500 freestyle, clocking 4:57.32.

MALLORY McGOWAN

The highlight of her season was winning the two Section titles, McGowan said.

Although she swam in more than just those two events, McGowan concentrated on them at Sections.

"I can swim all the strokes," she said. "But there were four girls and we each won both of our races at the Masters Meet," McGowan said. "We all signed up for different events so that we could each win races."

McGowan said her favorite event is the 100 breaststroke, which also happens to be her best.

The Northern Section stages its swim season in the fall, opposite the Sac-Joaquin Section, which swims in the spring. Given the option, McGowan said she would prefer to swim in the spring, because she trains at Woodland, which is part of the Sac-Joaquin Section.

With one high school season remaining, McGowan said she has set a couple of goals she would like to achieve.

"I would like to get a Junior National time," she said.

She needs to swim less than one second faster — a 1:04.39 — to qualify for the Junior Nationals in the 100 breaststroke.

"I'd also like to get a swim scholarship," McGowan said, citing another goal.

She has sparked interest from UC Santa Barbara, UC Davis, San Jose State and San Diego State.

She is not, however, planning on seeing Colusa develop a swim team next fall.

"I'm really the only one at Colusa who is into year-round swim," McGowan said.

So, it appears she will again be a one-person show. BRANDON PRESSWOOD

That may not be the case for Presswood.

"It's only a dream," Presswood said, about Faith Christian fielding a swim team next spring. "I'm not really sure about it. I don't know if I can find that many swimmers."

Presswood said he has a few friends at school who swim but not enough to fill out a roster.

What Presswood really would like is to latch on with another Mid-Valley school.

"I'm hoping either Yuba City or River Valley will see how good I am and let me train with them," Presswood said.

If that happens, Presswood would be able to train closer to home. As it is, he travels to Roseville to swim as part of the California Capital Aquatics team.

Presswood swam virtually every event except the breaststroke, which he admits he struggles with. His favorite event — which also is his fastest — is the 100 backstroke.

While he swims 100-yard events, Presswood also is a force in the longer 500 freestyle.

"I just try and pace myself," he said of his secret.

The highlight of his season, Presswood said, was qualifying for the Section Masters Meet.

Looking ahead to his final three years of high school, Presswood said he would like to win a Section title and also swim an All-American time.

BOYS

200 FREESTYLE: Harrison Sykes, senior, Yuba City, 1:51.32

200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY: Tyler Bellenfant, freshman, River Valley, 2:11.90

50 FREESTYLE: Sam Sykes, sophomore, Yuba City 24.46

100 BUTTERFLY: Andrew Sawyer, sophomore, River Valley, 59.43

100 FREESTYLE: Harrison Sykes, senior, Yuba City, 49.63

500 FREESTYLE: Brandon Presswood, freshman, Faith Christian, 4:57.32

100 BACKSTROKE: Brandon Presswood, freshman, Faith Christian, 57.65

100 BREASTSTROKE: Jake Pfyl, senior, Maxwell, 1:03.63

DIVING: Connor Lamon, freshman, River Valley, 362

GIRLS

200 FREESTYLE: Mallory McGowan, junior, Colusa, 1:57.37

200 INDIVIDUAL MEDLEY: Christine Chiono, freshman, Marysville, 2:39.88

50 FREESTYLE: Ektaa Niijar, Yuba City, 27.25

100 BUTTERFLY: Christine Chiono, freshman, Marysville, 1:09.34

100 FREESTYLE: Shelby Guillory, junior, Yuba City, 55.83

500 FREESTYLE: Kimmey Gillming, freshman, Yuba City, 5:18.31

100 BACKSTROKE: Shelby Guillory, junior, Yuba City, 1:10.77

100 BREASTSTROKE: Mallory McGowan, junior, Colusa, 1:05.15

DIVING: Allison Jarvis, freshman, River Valley, 205.10

Contact sports reporter Richard Myers at 749-4714 or rmyers@appeal-democrat.com