HIGH SCHOOL SWIMMING / SEASON PREVIEW : Crescenta Valley’s Jenkins Puts Focus on the Fast Lane

In less than two weeks, John Jenkins will know if he made the right decision.

The 6-foot-8 senior passed up a chance to be a starter on this season’s Crescenta Valley High basketball team, choosing instead to train full-time as a swimmer.

That decision seemed like a no-brainer for someone who might one day swim in the Olympics and could become the fastest high school sprinter in U.S. history. But when the Falcons made an improbable run to the Southern Section Division I-AA basketball final, Jenkins began to wonder.

“I didn’t go to any of the games, there is no way I could have sat through them,” he said. “I really didn’t know if I’d made the right decision.”

He’ll have a better idea after the U.S. National Championships in Seattle, which begin March 30. He’s not expecting to win, but if he swims well, basketball will disappear in the wake.

“I’d like to place but I just want to see how much I’ve improved,” Jenkins said. “I’ve been concentrating on this for months.”

Last season, Jenkins’ performance in the 50 and 100 freestyle events and on two relay teams led Crescenta Valley to the Division II title. Jenkins set a Southern Section record in the 50-yard freestyle in the Division II championships with a time of 20.53 seconds.

With several returning swimmers, the Falcons are ready for another run.

Even though Jenkins is training hard for the championships with his Industry Hills club team, he’s shown his commitment to Crescenta Valley by swimming in several nonleague meets.

After returning from the National Championships, Jenkins will split his practice time with his teammates at Crescenta Valley and the club team.

“When he was younger, like maybe 9 or 10, he was a full-time swimmer,” Industry Hills Coach Mike Gautreau said. “But when he reached about 13, like a lot of kids, he became a little burned out. But he’s got all the tools. He just realized that last year after he won.”

The early results justify Gautreau’s optimism. In a meet last week, Jenkins timed 21.0 seconds in the 50 freestyle unshaved and unrested. A year ago, Jenkins didn’t achieve that time until the end of the regular season.

Jenkins is pursuing the national high school record in the 50 freestyle. Joe Hudopohl of Cincinnati, an Olympian in 1992 while still in high school, swam 20.01.

“If he were to break 20 seconds it would be phenomenal,” Gautreau said of Jenkins. “It would mean he was better than any sprinter at this age in the best country for sprinters in the world.”

But if Jenkins fails to break the record, Crescenta Valley Coach John Loporchio doesn’t want the disappointment to tarnish the rest of Jenkins’ senior season.

“I think he’s got a good perspective about what he needs to do,” Loporchio said. “Just because he’s set standards already, he shouldn’t be considered a failure at all if he doesn’t get it.”

With almost a full year of continuous training behind him, Jenkins feels more comfortable and confident in the water.

Before last year, his height actually was a disadvantage. Because the 50 freestyle is a short race, his long reach and stroke were neutralized. Lately, he has focused on improving his start and turns.

“My start by far is the biggest improvement,” Jenkins said. “I always felt my best race was the 100 since it’s longer and my start wasn’t as strong. Now I feel at home as soon as I hit the water.”

Jenkins’ sprinting potential has attracted interest from some of the nation’s top programs, including Arizona, Texas and Washington. But Jenkins is waiting on the future of the endangered UCLA swimming program before deciding.

“If he continues to train hard and gets with the right college coach who knows how to deal with sprinters, he could be in the Olympics by 1996,” Gautreau said.

If that happens, Jenkins will know for sure he chose correctly.

“I was only going to play one more year (of basketball) anyway,” Jenkins said. “If I do well with swimming, it will take me a lot further.”

Teams to Watch

Crescenta Valley--Jenkins leads one of the top boys’ teams in the area. The defending Pacific League champion loses backstroke specialist Troy Nickell but has several talented freshmen.

Sprinter Jeff Robb and sophomore Joey Bennett (100 backstroke, 100 butterfly and 200 Individual Medley) already have qualified for the Southern Section championships. Steve Kim (200 IM, 100 breaststroke) and Even Robb (100 backstroke) are the top newcomers as the Falcons look to increase the gap between themselves and second-place Glendale.

Harvard-Westlake--The Wolverines, led by senior Alexis Larsen, will make a run at the Division III girls’ championship and are a heavy Mission League favorite. Larsen, who has signed with USC, was a Southern Section champion in the 200 IM and 500 freestyle last year as the Wolverines finished second behind San Luis Obispo.

“It already brings tears to my eyes to think this is her senior year,” Coach Darlene Bible said.

Larsen will be joined by talented sophomores Helicia Paz (100 butterfly, 500 freestyle), Kristen Olsen (100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 50 freestyle) and Emily Dashiell (100 backstroke 100 freestyle). Two divers, sophomores Colleen Gildea and Vy Vy Burt, a converted gymnast, are probable qualifiers for Section championships.

Buena--Coach Jon Siman thinks the girls’ team is poised to reclaim the Division I team championship won by the Bulldogs in 1992. A veteran team is led by seniors Abby Gustafson, Mandy Walz and Danielle Walker. Gustafson (50 freestyle) and Walz (100 backstroke) won Southern Section championships in 1992. They are joined by one of the top freshmen in the nation, Rebecca Gilman (500 freestyle).

The boys’ team isn’t as strong but should compete with Dos Pueblos and Santa Barbara for the Channel League title. Senior John Lorry (500 freestyle) and juniors Clay Flocco (100 butterfly, 200 freestyle) and Robbie Williams (500 freestyle, 100 butterfly) lead the Bulldogs.

Thousand Oaks--A group of four seniors will try to lead the Lancers to their 13th consecutive boys’ Marmonte League title. Michael Melzer (backstroke), Daniel Burbach (breaststroke), Corey McFarlin (butterfly) and David Kung (freestyle) provide a formidable medley relay team. Sophomore Benj Phall finished ninth in the Division I diving championships.

Coach Bill Gemberling hopes to at least duplicate last year’s 11th place finish in Division I.

The girls’ team is hurt by the graduation of Valery Calkins, who won two events in the Division I championships last year. Calkins now swims at South Carolina. Junior Shaina Christensen and senior Amy Capella will keep the Lancers in the upper half of the league. Junior Dory Apgar was a section qualifier in diving.

Hart--The Indians haven’t lost a Foothill League girls’ dual meet since rejoining the league in 1982. The streak should continue because Coach Steve Neale has a strong sophomore class. Becky Skyler has already qualified for the Southern Section championships in three events (100 butterfly, 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke) and Erin Walsh in two events (100 breaststroke and 200 IM). Kelly Velentine (freestyle) and Lauren Prelle (butterfly) are other top sophomores.

The depth will help offset the loss of All-American Lindsey Gassner, who placed second in the 50 and 100 freestyle in the section championships last year. Gassner, a senior, moved to Santa Barbara.

Saugus--The boys’ team should repeat as Foothill League champion. Todd Pierce (50, 100 freestyle), Jason Adamek (backstroke) and Bill Jones (50, 100 freestyle) form the nucleus of a experienced team. Freshmen, Ryan Hyfield (butterfly, 500 freestyle) and Troy Wheply (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke) will help the Centurions.

A deep girls’ team should keep Saugus in second place behind Hart. Sophomore Katrina Reynoso is a returning section qualifier in the 200 individual medley. Caroline Hardbarger and Suzanna Maness also are talented sophomores.

Westlake--The boys’ and girls’ teams both should contend in the Marmonte League. Sophomore Jennifer Vanderbrook and junior Rachel Mandich lead the girls’ team. Sophomore Nicholas LeClerc and seniors Nick O’Hare and David Block are top swimmers for the boys’ team.

Agoura--Sophomore Erin Schatz (200 IM, 100 backstroke) leads a girls’ team which has as good a chance as any to win the Marmonte League. Senior Christine DiSpaltro (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), Dorian Reese (200 IM 100 butterfly) and Krista Hanson (100 breaststroke) are top performers.

The boys’ team doesn’t have the depth to win the league title but with three strong swimmers, Harvey Wilford (200 IM, 100 butterfly), Chris Zendejas (200 IM, 100 breaststroke) and Jason Reese (200 IM, 500 freestyle), the Chargers should finish in the top half of the league.

Royal--With a strong crop of freshmen girls combined with several returning swimmers, the Highlanders have a chance to win their first outright Marmonte League title since 1982.

Junior Erika Salazar was a Division I finalist in the 100 butterfly and is helped by seniors Sara Landre (freestyle), Jenny Treglown (distance freestyle) and Heather Weis (diving and sprint freestyle).

The freshmen are headed by Courtney Duncan, the fourth Duncan to swim at Royal. Stacie and Marten Duncan went on to swim at Harvard and Ryan Duncan is swimming at Cal. “Courtney’s got the potential to be the best,” Coach Steve Snyder said.

Jamie McIntire and Amanda Whipple are other top freshmen.

Granada Hills--The Highlanders lost one of the nation’s top swimmers--Kristine Quance, now at USC--but sisters Keri (senior) and Julie (junior) Quance are back to try to improve on last year’s third-place finish in the City Section.

Junior Erin Shaw joined the Quance sisters to set a City record in the 200 medley relay.

Birmingham--The defending boys’ City champion is the favorite in the West Valley League and should contend for the City title again. Chris Cristales, second in the City in the 200 freestyle, will lead several strong swimmers. Gretchen Ballard set City records in the 50 and 100 freestyle last year. The newest addition is diver Aruz Gyulbdikian, a potential Olympian from Armenia spending her second year in the United States.