Free & Easy

Granada High is home to two of the top junior freestylers in the country

   With black-rimmed glasses, broad shoulders and GQ good looks, Maxime Rooney is a wringer for Clark Kent.

  The 6-foot-3, 170-pound 17-year-old also sports a 4.2 grade point average and pierces one’s pupils while speaking with precise diction and clarity.

  According to Granada swim coach Julian Avilla, “He’s extremely respectful and polite. He offers nothing but ‘please,’ ‘thank you,’ and ‘you’re welcome.’ And he’ll talk to you whether you are 6- or 90-years-old.

  “He’s a pretty old soul.”

  Moriah Simonds, on the other hand, is a 5-11 bundle of youthful energy. She’s a classic California teenage girl, bubbly and vivacious, brimming freely with auburn locks, good nature and a big, bold, million-dollar smile.  

  “It’s so cool to see her laughing and smiling all the time,” Rooney said. “It’s infectious.”

  Said Avilla: “She’s definitely more of a social butterfly. She has fun and really enjoys her friends. At the same time, she knows exactly when to flip the switch to practice and compete. She’s a workhorse.”

  That switch is what both bonds Simonds and Rooney, and what sets them apart.

  Though All-American in every other way — looks, personality and academics — the duo are known around the country for their swimming prowess. The teammates for both Granada and club-power Pleasanton Seahawks are each ranked among the nation’s best for the Class of 2016.

  Rooney, who has already committed to the University of Florida, is the No. 3 male recruit in the country according to collegeswimming.com. The un-committed Simonds is No. 26 among the females. Both excel at long distance freestyle — especially Simonds — having each won the last two North Coast Section 500-yard championships.

  Rooney, a more versatile sort, has also won the last two 200 freestyle titles, and as a freshman he placed second in the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle. He also contributed to legs on two NCS relay titles for Granada in 2014, including the NCS record in the 400 freestyle (2 minutes, 59 seconds). At the same meet, he set section records in the 200 free (1:35.69) and 500 free (4:20.60).

  Rooney is considered a serious Olympic hopeful for both the 2016 games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2020 games in Tokyo. Though at this point she is not, Simonds is still California’s top prep 1,000-yard freestyler.

  She also pushes Rooney to the brink at Seahawks practice.

  “She has such incredible endurance,” Rooney said. “She can go a long time maintaining the same pace, and I think that’s pretty special. I know some days when I’m not feeling very well, she’s my training partner and she’s always on top of it. She’s definitely someone to race every day and that’s pretty cool.”

  It’s equally cool to have two such elite swimmers in the program, especially in a city more known for rodeo and wrestling than aquatics.

  Avilla, whose dad Darrel was the former football coach and mom Pat the former swim coach at rival Livermore High, said there’s no extra pressure on him with Rooney and Simonds on board. Quite the opposite, really.

  “It’s really incredible to have that type of talent on one team,” Avilla said. “But what makes it even better is that they’re such great academic kids too. They add a lot of pieces to our program.”

  Including team spirit.

  Though they don’t practice with the Matadors — instead training with the Seahawks and head coach Steve Morsilli — Rooney and Simonds are team players first and foremost, Avilla said.

  That showed at the CIF’s inaugural state meet in Clovis May 22-23.

  Like many national swimmers, Rooney had made the tough decision not to swim individually at the state meet, instead preparing for the long-course season that concludes in early August with the Junior Nationals and Nationals in San Antonio, Texas.

  Rather than bypass the meet completely — he was the heavy favorite to win the 200 and 500 freestyle races — Rooney traveled with the team and led the Matadors to a third-place finish in the 200 freestyle relay along with fellow juniors Jared Brandley and twins Michael and Ryan Eckles. Their 1:24.56 finals’ time bettered their NCS third-place time by a half-second.

  Later, the 400 free relay team of Rooney, Michael Eckles, Brandley and Nathan Sproul improved by almost a second from NCS and placed 13th.

  Rooney said the road trip was the highlight of his season.

  “To get up on the medal stand with my teammates, knowing all the hard work we all put in was incredible,” he said. “Honestly, that’s why I get up in the morning, to see my friends and train to get better.”

  Avilla said Rooney isn’t blowing smoke. He said he’s never had a better team player, noting that Rooney helps set the lineups and strategize in the talent-laden East Bay Athletic League — which featured top-five state teams San Ramon Valley and De La Salle as well as No. 13 Monte Vista. Granada finished 5-2 in EBAL action.

  “He knows all the swimmers in the league so we sit down and game plan,” Avilla said. “He’s really serious about the team stuff. Not just in planning, but he brings it in the pool.”

  Like at state. His opening legs at state for the 200 and 400 relays were 20.19 and 43.58 seconds. His 100 free would have won by more than a second (44.60 won it), and his 50 free would have placed second.

  Those aren’t even his top events. He’ll swim everything but the individual medley and breaststroke at junior nationals and nationals.

  His versatility and star power makes him sort of a rock star around swimming circles, Avilla said. But you’d never know it just being around Rooney.

  “More than once we walked by a couple kids (at the state meet) and I’d hear them say, ‘That’s Maxime Rooney,’ “ Avilla said. “None of it gets to him. He maintains his focus and humble nature. Honestly, he was happier to represent his school than himself there.”

  Same for Simonds.

  She was the big 500 free favorite going in and was the top qualifier by almost three seconds, 4:46.97 to 4:49.80. She also earned a finals spot in the 200 free.

  Unfortunately, Simonds got ill the morning of state finals, and had to drop out. It wasn’t so disappointing because she missed out on a potential pair of medals — she has boxes full of those.

  “I really want to win a state title for my school and coach,” she said May 16 after the NCS finals. “We’re not the top team by any means, but it would mean a lot to (Avilla) who does so much for us and the school.”

  So how did they get here?

  Rooney won early and often for the Livermore Fireballs youth swim teams. He started at age 5. The oldest of three boys, Rooney stuck with aquatics, while younger brothers Adrien and Olivier have branched off to tennis, soccer and even ping-pong. His mother Charlotte, from Belgium, swam and played tennis to stay active, while his father Kennan, from Missouri, thrived in academics, music and the arts.

  The intricacies and consistency of his sport — flip turns, breathing techniques, stroke details — have kept Rooney hungry for the sport. Watching Ian Thorpe and Michael Phelps in the Olympics have allowed him to dream, but he never gets ahead of himself.

  His strong faith always keeps him grounded. He sets constant daily, seasonal and long-term goals.

  “At the end of the day, I know who is in control and that’s God,” he said. “Whatever He has graced me in the past and graces me in the future, I accept and am grateful for.”

  Simonds didn’t start to swim competitivly until the age of 9. She played soccer and excelled at gymnastics, but when she began to sprout, her choices were largely made.

  “When I hit 5-8, gymnastics were out,” she said. “I quit soccer when I was 12, just because of time commitment.”

  Why did she pick swimming in the first place?

  “Honestly, I have the worst hand-eye coordination in the world. This is what I’m best at. Plus, I like competing as an individual and as a team. I like doing this as an individual and with other people.”  
  That’s music to the ears of Avilla, who gets Simonds and Rooney one more high school season.

  “I’m a very lucky coach,” he said.