Rosa Bebi Claims County Swim Crown for Helix Charter High School

Rosa Bebi of Helix Carter High School won a county title Saturday—taking first in Division II in the 100 breaststroke at the San Diego CIF swimming and diving championships at Del Norte High School near Poway. Rosa, a junior, finished in 1:05.72, and also came in sixth in the 200 freestyle in 1:58.35.

The Highlander 200 medley relay  team of Megan Steinbergs, Victoria Nauman, Rosa and Brittanie Fryling took fifth in 1:55.71. Coach is Helix alumnus Lenelle Wylie.

In Division I, Clare Curran of Grossmont High School came in sixth in both the 200 IM (2:15.22) and the 100 breaststoke (1:09.73). The Hiller boys 200 freestyle relay team was sixth in 1:31.50.

Rosa (formally Rosamaria, but called Rosie by her family) is a member of The Wave elite swim club, also trains at the Wavehouse at the Mission Beach Plunge.

Her club coach is is Don Watkinds, who also guided Rosa’s mother, Lisa, 40 years ago, she says.

“He is interesting because he also coaches a premiere Olympic team of disabled people,” Lisa Bebi says.  “The disabled swimmers work out along with the abled elite senior swimmers.  This has been a wonderful experience for both types of swimmers.  I know Rosie loves it.  And they encourage her to reach for higher national goals.”

Rosie—who has a 4.8 grade-point average at Helix— switched from a La Mesa club team to The Wave in December 2009, her mom says.

“She was already a respectable swimmer, but Don has had bigger visions for her.  He completely changed her strokes (first the breaststroke) to be more dynamic.  That was tricky because she had already been swimming/competing nine years in age group with a fairly successful breaststroke.

Lisa Bebi called it a bold move to recreate a new breast stroker out of her, “but it worked. Her times have been dropping at every meet.  She was undefeated all season in breaststroke.”