For nearly a decade, three Carlsbad High swimmers have been making the half-hour drive to La Jolla six days a week to endure three hours of grueling practice for their North Coast Aquatics club team.

Not only that, during the high school season the athletes climb out of bed before dawn two days a week for morning practice in Carlsbad.

As daunting as 20 hours a week of swim practice sounds, it's nothing new for the Lancers, who have a rich history of talented club swimmers.

Juniors Spencer DiDio and Lewis Anderson and senior Tyler Hoffman are simply carrying on a tradition that has made the Carlsbad boys team the most successful swim team in San Diego during the past several years.

“Carlsbad's been lucky as far as getting club swimmers,” DiDio said. “I think the club team is more of the work, and high school is more reaping the benefits.”

Anderson, DiDio and Hoffman, who have been carpooling to La Jolla together for the past five years, have seen plenty of benefits in their three years together at Carlsbad.

The trio combined for eight titles in the Avocado League championships May 9, setting meet records in the 200-medley and 400-freestyle relays. Anderson also broke his own mark in the 200 free by almost two seconds. It was the eighth straight team championship for the Lancers.

“It's really amazing,” Anderson said. “This is our sixth year undefeated. We continue to dominate almost every meet we compete in.”

And Carlsbad continued its dominance of the San Diego Section last weekend, winning seven of 11 events and taking its sixth straight CIF Division I title.

“CIF is kind of a sacred meet to us,” said DiDio, who won the 100 butterfly for the second consecutive year and improved on last year's third-place finish in the 200 individual medley with a gold medal.

Distance-specialist Anderson snagged the 500-freestyle title and finished second in the 200.

For none of the three were the stakes higher than for Hoffman. While Anderson and DiDio are essentially guaranteed at least partial scholarships to compete at the next level, Hoffman must basically swim his way to college.

The senior said the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo coaching staff told him he must swim at least a 1 minute flat in the 100 breaststroke – his signature event – if he hopes to make the team.

Hoffman swam a 59.53, finishing third in the event.

DiDio plans to attend a University of Califronia campus, while Anderson is looking at Stanford, MIT and the University of Washington.

For Carlsbad boys coach J.B. Feaster, the three outstanding swimmers have formed the core of a team that hasn't lost a meet since they've been there.

“We're as good as we've ever been,” Feaster said. “It's been great this run we've had for the past few years. For high school, it's pretty unusual.

“Their attitude and work ethic rubs off on the guys that aren't club swimmers. It adds another dimension to your team.”

Senior backstroker Andres Carreras, junior Joe Stitts and freestyle sprinter Russell Hampton add depth to a talented team that topped second-place Poway by more than 75 points in the CIF meet.

“It's pretty much one big team,” Anderson said. “All the other swimmers are excellent.”

While the high school season ended with the CIF finals on Saturday, the club season is just getting started for the three outstanding North Coast club swimmers.

Anderson said he and DiDio will be focused on shaving off as much time as they can to qualify for the junior nationals at the end of the year.

“I dream about it sometimes, but I just try to stay focused on the next step,” Anderson said.

If hard work is what it takes to make it to the next level, none of these three should have any trouble getting there.

Matt Crosson: (760) 752-6744; matt.crosson@tlnews.net