Julian shines in Glendale swimming’s sweep of rival Hoover
It was a final home stand for Trenton Julian.
The two-time reigning All-Area Boys’ Swimmer of the Year took part in his final home meet at Glendale High Wednesday afternoon when his Nitros boys’ team took on crosstown rival Hoover in a Pacific League dual meet finale.
The senior made an impact in his last on-campus competition, winning two individual events and helping Glendale take first in a relay in an 84-75 victory against the Tornadoes.
Glendale was able to complete the sweep of its rival, as the Nitros girls earned a 97-73 victory.
“It was nice to be able to swim here one more time in my last year,” Julian said. “I don’t think we’ve had a home meet here since maybe my sophomore year. So to be able to be here in my final [dual] meet is great.
“I was really looking forward to his one. I’m finally starting to feel a lot better and finally getting back in shape and it’s just a matter of getting back up to speed.”
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Julian has made a name for himself in Glendale swimming history and currently holds six of the school’s eight individual event records. He was gunning for a seventh Wednesday in the 100-yard breaststroke, attempting to best the time of 58.3 seconds set in 1971 by former Olympic record-holder Mark Chatfield. Julian just missed the record, finishing in a winning time of 58.7.
“I have just been off of that mark before and I’ve just some very close,” said Julian, a multiple-time CIF champion.
The senior also won the 200 individual medley (1:55) and helped the Nitros 200 individual medley relay to victory (1:43).
Glendale received wins from Antonio Gutierrez in the 500 freestyle (5:42) and Anthony Ovesepyan in the 100 backstroke.
“This is a great meet for everybody and, although we are rivals, we are really all like family from the two schools,” said Glendale assistant coach Narek Vardanian, who was filling in for Carol Driffill, who was dealing with a death in the family. “I still want to win, but this isn’t like a cutthroat type of rivalry.”
Hoover had a double winner in Haik Gukasyan in the 200 freestyle (1:50) and the 100 freestyle (52.49), while Jonathon Salandi took the 50 freestyle (23.36) and Vahe Akopyan won the 100 butterfly (55.92),
On the girls’ side, Glendale received a strong performance from Emma Mueller, who was victorious in the 200 individual medley (2:42) and the 100 backstroke (1:15). Other first-place winners for the Nitros were Kaylin Lo in the 100 butterfly (1:12) and Jamie Fritz in the 100 breaststroke (24.70).
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The Tornadoes were led by double winner Nane Akopyan in the 200 freestyle (2:10) and the 500 freestyle (5:38) The team also received wins from Lusin Yengibaryan in the 50 freestyle (28.59) and Sona Aghasaryan in the 100 freestyle (1:04).
“This meet is a good chance for us to get ready for next week when we have the league prelims and finals,” Hoover Coach Kevin Witt. “We want to make sure we have all the relays in the right order and have the right combinations and we’re making sure everyone is in their specific events that they are going to swim next week.
“Unfortunately, we’ve had people missing for just about every meet this year, so we haven’t been able to find a rhythm, but we’re hoping it all falls together next week.”
The Pacific League prelims will take place Tuesday at Burbank High, with the finals set for Thursday at the same venue.
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