Seniors Hesston, Stephens Help Cleveland Resurface

Cleveland High swimmers Ricky Hesston and Sean Stephens are the leaders of a relay team that is an unlikely favorite for a City Section title.

The seniors competed for the Cavaliers as freshmen in 1991--the last time Cleveland had a swim team. With a new on-campus pool, the swimming program was reinstated for this season, but two weeks before practice, the Northridge earthquake severely damaged the pool.

Coaches Jim Cromwell and Barbara Suto scrambled to find a practice facility, finally getting use of the West Valley YMCA pool in Reseda.

Through all of the distractions, Hesston and Stephens, along with juniors Oren Yakovee and Richard Gilmore, posted the top qualifying time in the 200-yard freestyle relay for the City Section finals, which will take place today at 3 p.m. at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

Because of a lack of participants, the program was disbanded after the 1991 season. But with the imminent opening of the pool, Cromwell and Suto found student interest overwhelming, with 132 swimmers ready for practice on Jan. 31, the day the pool was set to open.

Because of structural damage, the pool was not opened. Expecting interest to wane, Cromwell was pleasantly surprised when nearly 100 students tried out for the team.

The Cleveland pool is wide enough for 11 lanes, plenty to accommodate 100 swimmers. Because the YMCA pool has only five lanes, Cromwell and Suto reluctantly trimmed the squad to 50.

“Considering all we went through, I’m pleasantly surprised how well we’ve done,” Cromwell said. “We had no idea what kind of talent we had.”

The Cavalier boys’ team also qualified for the finals of the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay and have laid a foundation for next year. The pool should be ready by February.

Birmingham is the defending boys’ champion and is led by Chris Cristales, second in the 200 freestyle last year.

In the girls’ competition, Birmingham sophomore Gretchen Ballard gives the Braves a solid chance to unseat defending City champion Palisades. Ballard set City records in the 50 and 100 freestyle; this year, she is competing in the 200 and 500 freestyle.

Keri and Julie Quance lead Granada Hills, along with Erin Shaw. Last year, they teamed with Kristine Quance to set a City record in the 200 medley relay.