Teams look up to leaders

The female swimmers from Burroughs High got a bit of a slow start this season.

Many of the swimmers also competed for the Indians girls’ water polo team that made program history by advancing to the CIF Southern Section Division V quarterfinals for the first time.

“Those girls are in water polo shape, but not necessarily swimming shape,” Burroughs Coach Danny Garcia said. “But we are getting them into swimming shape pretty quickly.”

Burroughs, along with Burbank, has a good core of top swimmers. Here is a look at how the season is shaping up.

BURROUGHS

“We will have about 17 girls for our varsity team and about 15 for varsity boys,” Garcia said. “It’s a far cry from the 10 or 11 boys that I had last year. So, it’s really nice. We only lost a few swimmers to graduation and we have some very good freshmen in.”

On the girls’ side, senior Savannah Simmons (100- and 50-yard freestyle), senior Erika Green (200 freestyle, 100 backstroke), senior Andrea Young (100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke) and senior Marie Yoker (500 freestyle, 100 butterfly) should provide the core of the returners. Yoker placed third last season in the Pacific League in the 100 butterfly.

Also looked upon to get points are Ahsha Earwood (200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke) and Melanie Odaadjian (100 freestyle, and backstroke).

Freshmen who Garcia said should make instant impacts are Micaela Salinas (utility) and Tnley Paterson (500 and 100 breaststroke).

“With the two freshmen, they are so versatile that we can put them in a variety of events where we need them,” Garcia said. “Also, for the first time we have a lot of teams for our relays. We should be very strong in the relays.”

For the boys, key returners are senior Chris Reithel (100 and 50 freestyle), junior Kevin Ueno (100 butterfly, 200 individual medley), sophomore Casey Ueno (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly), senior Skyler Winkler (50 freestyle, 100 backstroke), junior Brandon Olivas (500 and 200 freestyle) and junior Carson Caldwell (50 and 100 freestyle), who should give the team some depth.

Freshman Dexter Brown (100 breaststroke, 50 and 100 freestyle) has also impressed Garcia.

BURBANK

Ryan Hairapetian takes over as the Bulldogs’ coach, as the program has seen three coaches in the past three seasons. Hairapetian said the team has been receptive to him taking over.

“I think about 80% of them have been receptive to me,” he said. “But there are some kids who miss the old coach and I understand that. But for the most part it’s been great, and the booster club has been really great.

“We have a lot of very hard workers, which is nice.”

Hairapetian mentioned four key swimmers who should lead the team.

On the boys’ side, senior Christopher Mitilian (100 backstroke) and senior Kevin Miller (100 butterfly), will provide leadership in and out of the pool as the team’s co-captains, Hairapetian said.

“Chris is an outstanding leader,” Hairapetian said. “He motivates the other kids on the team, he is always willing to help the coaches and he just helps out in a variety of ways.

“Kevin is an extremely hard worker and he sets a positive example.”

For the Bulldogs girls’ team, senior captain Rachel Moskowitz (100 breaststroke, relays) and senior captain Bell Mingcharaenwong (100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, relays) will be expected to step up.

“Those are going to be two of our better girls,” Hairapetian said.