Evans Did Her Part For Team : Swimmer Cites El Dorado Effort as High-Water Mark

What do you give a girl who has nearly everything? How about a teddy bear?

Janet Evans, world-class distance swimmer, treasures a stuffed animal as much as the three gold medals she won in the Seoul Olympics last summer.

The teddy bear was a present from one of her teammates at El Dorado High School. But the entire team presented it to her at the Southern Section 3-A finals in May.

“It was from my secret pal on the team,” Evans said. “Everyone on the team has one, and we give each other little gifts before every meet. But this one was from everyone. They all signed a card and gave it to me. It was neat.”

For Evans, The Times’ Orange County girls’ swimmer of the year, the gift marked the end of an illustrious high school career.

While at El Dorado, Evans competed in four Southern Section championship meets. Including relays, she won 10 Southern Section titles.

“I’ve always liked the Southern Section meet,” said Evans, who will attend Stanford on a swimming scholarship in the fall. “It was fun to compete with a team. I like being with my peers.”

Evans has had few of those in the pool, especially on the high school level. She holds national high school records in the 200-yard individual medley and 500 freestyle.

In the 1989 3-A meet, Evans broke her national high school record in the 200 individual medley with a time of 1 minute 59.96 seconds. She also won the 500 freestyle in 4:38.34, missing her national mark by a second.

Evans also helped El Dorado’s 200 medley relay team finish first. The Golden Hawks finished second at the meet.

The second-place finish is Evans’ fondest memory of her high school competition.

“That was really exciting,” Evans said. “It was the highest El Dorado has ever finished. That was special. I’m glad I was a part of it.”

For Evans, the high school season was a welcome break from the rigors of international competition. It was a chance to be with her friends and have a little fun. She regularly swam in events other than her specialties in dual meets, as well as swimming on relay teams.

“I got to swim the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke during dual meets,” Evans said. “I could never do that on the international level. I’m a distance swimmer; there’s no way I could beat the best in the world in the 100-meter anything.

“In high school swimming, I get to be with my friends. That’s the best part.”

It may sound odd, but Evans has actually lost a high school race in the Southern Section championship meet. Of course, that was back in those pre-legend days when she was a freshman.

Since losing in the 200 individual medley in 1985, she has won every individual championship race.

“I can’t believe it’s over already,” Evans said. “High school went by so fast. It’s hard to imagine not swimming in high school anymore. It’s a little sad.”

GIRLS’ ALL-COUNTY SWIMMING TEAM

Based on results in Southern Section meets and participation with high school team

Name School Time 200 Medley Relay El Dorado 1:53.13 200 Freestyle Amy Shaw Capistrano Valley 1:47.91 200 IM Janet Evans El Dorado 1:59.96 50 Freestyle Christy Carolin Capistrano Valley 23.94 100 Butterfly Betsi Hugh Marina 56.90 100 Freestyle Kathy Diebler Mission Viejo 56.90 500 Freestyle Janet Evans El Dorado 4:38.34 100 backstroke Suzi Burt Mission Viejo 57.55 100 breaststroke Michelle Ham Fountain Valley 1:05.74 400 Freestyle Relay Mission Viejo 3:28.56 Spring Board Diving Patti Thompson Fountain Valley 451.30