Swimming: Cavaliers sweep team titles at City Section finals

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Cleveland pulled off the ‘double’ at the City Section Swim Championships on Wednesday afternoon at John C. Argue Swim Stadium in Los Angeles, becoming the first school to sweep the boys’ and girls’ team titles since Palisades accomplished the feat in 2003.

Cleveland’s boys mounted a huge comeback over the final three events to finish with 179 points, 14 ahead of second-place San Pedro. Birmingham placed third with 152 points, followed by Venice (127), Palisades (118) and Granada Hills (115).

Trailing by 19 points going into the 100 backstroke, the Cavaliers took sixth and 10th in that event, then had three of the top six finishers in the 100 breaststroke. In a span of two races the Cavaliers outscored San Pedro 47-6 to open a 153-33 lead. The Pirates cut into their deficit by beating Cleveland in the 400 freestyle relay, but it was too little too late. Cleveland won the meet without winning a single event.

In the girls’ competition, Cleveland’s sheer depth was simply too much for reigning champion Palisades to overcome. Sophomore Valerie Orellana took first place in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke and Jessica Chong pulled off a surprising win in the 100 breaststroke to key the Cavaliers’ victory.

Cleveland finished with 295 1/2 points to thwart Palisades’ attempt at a fourth straight section title. Palisades was second with 252 1/2 points, followed by Venice (203 1/2), Granada Hills (137), Marshall (102 1/2) and Birmingham (73).

Andi Murez of Venice won four girls events, setting City records in the 100 and 200 freestyle and anchoring the Gondos’ victorious 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

-- Steve Galluzzo