Boys’ Player of the Week : Greg Larson Didn’t Need a Push to Follow His Father

Greg Larson of Villa Park High School had your average childhood, as far as athletics were concerned. He made sure to try most of the popular sports.

But, when he started high school, there was no question what sport would demand his time. Swimming was in his blood.

His father, Lance Larson Sr., won a gold and silver medal in the 1960 Olympics and set numerous United States swimming records. In 1959, he was also the first swimmer to break the 1-minute barrier in the 100-meter butterfly.

Yet, Lance Larson never pushed any of his four sons into swimming. They just ended up there.

“I think dad didn’t want us to burn out in the sport,” said Greg Larson, The Times’ player of the week. “There are a lot of swimmers who start competing at young ages and then want nothing to do with the sport when they get older. Dad just let us find out for ourselves what sport we were really good in.”

Last week at the Foothill Invitational, he won the 200- and 400-yard freestyles, as well as anchoring Villa Park’s 400-yard freestyle relay team to victory. Larson’s performance earned him the outstanding male swimmer award for the meet.

Larson is also just three-tenths of a second off the qualifying time in the 400-meter freestyle for the U.S. Olympic swimming trials. The qualifying time is 3:59.7 and Larson has a time of 4:00.0.

“I’m going to try to get the time down before the trials in August,” Larson said. “I really don’t have a chance to make the Olympic team, but it would just be an honor to be included among the top 40 swimmers in the nation.”

Larson, who is the second oldest son, is following the family path step by step.

His father attended USC and older brother Lance Larson Jr. is currently a sophomore on the Trojan swim team. And Greg, a senior at Villa Park, said he will make an oral commitment to USC today.

Lance Larson has let his son make up his own mind about that, too.

“He really didn’t try to push me toward USC,” Greg said. “It came down between California and USC. My dad just wanted me to pick the school I thought would be best for me.

“But, I think he was happy that I choose USC.”

TOP PERFORMERS

Danny Lane of Laguna Beach went 6 for 7 with two home runs. On Thursday, Lane went 3 for 4 with a home run and two singles against Costa Mesa. On Friday, he went 3 for 3 with a single, triple and home run and scored four runs, again against Costa Mesa.

Matt Balsz of Mission Viejo had three hits, including two home runs, and four RBIs. He also won one game and saved another. On Thursday, Balsz pitched the last three innings for a save and drove in the game-winning run against Irvine. On Friday, he threw a 2-0 shutout and hit two home runs against Irvine.

Derek Ogle of Ocean View threw a no-hitter against Marina. Ogle struck out two in the 1-0 victory.

Greg Larson

Villa Park High School

Position: 200- and 400-yard freestyles

Height, Weight, Class: 6-0, 150, Sr.

Last Week: Larson won the 200- and 400-yard freestyle races at the Foothill Invitational. He also anchored the 400- yard freestyle relay team to victory.

Season: Larson has not lost a high school race this season. He also placed third among high school swimmers in the 400-yard freestyle at the U.S. Shortcourse Senior Nationals in March.