Boys’ Swimming Preview: Returners key potentially strong year
With strong returners back for most of the local boys’ swim programs this spring, the 2017 season could be a big one in terms of individual accomplishment.
It seems that no matter the number or quality that graduate year in and year out for Crescenta Valley High, the Falcons are just expected to be strong in the Pacific League.
“Everyone looks to us to be the frontrunner in league,” Crescenta Valley Coach Jan Sakonju said. “That expectation has been put on the boys. Now, I definitely believe it’s going to be tight and they’re facing a really good, hungry Arcadia team, so we have our work cut out for us.”
Last season, the Falcons were defeated by the Apaches during the regular season and had to fight to beat Arcadia at the league finals to forge a split of the title. The win marked the 23rd straight time Crescenta Valley won at least a share of the Pacific League crown.
This year, that task is made more difficult after the graduation of senior Eddie Gallehugh and Hyunsung Kim.
Gallehugh and Kim were members of relays teams or individually placed in the top three in league in six events last season.
In a league that includes sensational swimmers like Arcadia senior Tenny Chong and two-time All-Area Boys’ Swimmer of the Year Trenton Julian of Glendale, Sakonju will need points across his roster.
Perhaps two youngsters ready to take the next step are sophomores William Blake and Justin Sheen.
Blake captured the league’s 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 45.56 seconds last season, was second in the 500 freestyle (4:47.68) to Julian and participated in a pair of relays.
Sheen placed second in the 100 breaststroke (58.61) and fourth in the 200 individual medley(2:04.04).
Outside of the duo, Sakonju is looking for a big season from Andre Yarcan in the breaststroke and butterfly races, while Jaden Suh, Sevada Avanessian, David Komjathy and Alex Hale figure to factor into the Falcons’ success.
It was a magical 2016 for Glendale High swimming thanks largely to the exploits of Julian.
The senior set a new league record in the 200 IM (1:49.80) and captured the 500 freestyle (4:30.82).
At the CIF Southern Section Division II championships, Julian romped to a victory in the 200 free (1:36.21) and 100 butterfly (47.88).
Though he qualified to state, Julian passed up the competition in preparation for the US Olympic Swim Trials.
Julian became the city’s first representative at the trials since 2000, qualified for both the 100 and 200 butterfly and eventually only competed in the latter and took 71st (2:04.16).
The Glendale resident also committed to the University of California at Berkeley.
While Julian returns, the Nitros lost a talented swimmer in Jayson Wilia, who captured the league 100 backstroke in 55.38.
Glendale Coach Carol Driffill brings back a talented junior in Anthony Ovsepyan and welcomes freshman Kierin Ferris.
“They’re all guys who can swim basically any race,” Driffill said. “So, we can change to what the needs are that day. It’s nice to have some strong swimmers like that.”
History was certainly in the cards for Flintridge Prep last season.
The Rebels captured their fourth straight Prep League championship, tied for for 14th (83 points) at the CIF Southern Section Division III Swimming and Diving Championships and received a banner year from Andreas Langen.
The senior captured the Division III 50-yard freestyle race in 24.46 seconds and, in the process, became his school’s first individual champion in two years and first titlist in the 50 free since Mike Miao in 1980.
Langen also came up just short of doubling his title take by finishing second in the 100 free in 46.65. He did, however, become the area’s first-ever CIF State participant in both events.
Flintridge Prep Coach Ingrid Herskind would like to see “individual wins for Andy in the freestyles and [personal records] all around.”
Beyond Langen, Herskind has quite a few talented returners back, including junior Brett Bell and sophomores Winston Chen and Ben Brookbanks.
Langen, Chen and Bell, along with Sean King, helped make up a strong 200-yard medley relay squad that won the league title and finished sixth in 1:40.88 at the Division III finals.
Chen will continue to compete in the backstroke and freestyle competitions, Brookbanks in the free sprints and Bell in the backstroke and butterfly events.
Herskind has set her sights on another league title for the boys and strong individual advancement throughout the postseason.
It’s year No. 3 in the tough Mission League for St. Francis Coach Brady Lowdermilk, who’s seen progress.
Though the Golden Knights finished in sixth place, they were within 40 points of Alemany for fifth and did qualify relay teams to the CIF Southern Section Division I preliminaries.
“As we enter this season, I’m really happy with where we stand,” Lowdermilk said. “We have 29 guys on the team (up from 15 last year) – including four seniors (up from zero last year). Of those 29 guys, about half were on the water polo team this fall.”
Lowdermilk will turn to a few valuable upperclassmen for productivity and leadership in seniors Gabriel Azabache and Elijah Havens and junior Michael Humphrey.
Azabache, one of many Rose Bowl Aquatics products on the squad, enters with personal-best marks of 56.61 and 1:53.93 in the 100 fly and 200 free, respectively. Havens will compete in the 50 free (24.25) and 100 free (54.02) and Humphrey is set to go in the 100 fly (55.33) and 500 free (4:55.73).
Beyond the trio, Lowdermilk has a promising sophomore in John Balog, who will compete in the 50 free (23.86) and 100 free (53.26), and a trio of freshmen who are expected to produce in Christopher Bruce, Ethan Gray and Michael Smith.
Last season, Hoover swimming finished seventh at the Pacific League finals with 89 points.
One returner is senior Vahe Akopyan, who took third in the league 200 IM in 2:01.54. Akopyan also placed third in the 500 freestyle in 4:51.87.
Akopyan capped his season by finishing 17th in the 500 free in 4:48.29 at the CIF-SS Division II Championships.
The senior will likely be Hoover’s big scorer this year.
