PREP SWIMMING / CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS : Palisades Girls Win Title for 13th Time

Palisades High won only two individual races in the City Section girls’ swimming finals at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach on Wednesday but used team depth to win its 13th title in 14 years.

Senior Louise Baker, who won the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events, was the only individual Dolphin champion as Palisades scored 231 points, 76 more than runner-up Venice.

“We lost six seniors from last year and have only two now,” Baker said. “But everybody did so well and pushed themselves.”

Sophomore Gretchen Ballard of Van Nuys Birmingham won the 200 and 500 freestyle races. Her 200 time of 1:52.90 broke the meet record set by her sister, Heather, who swam 1:53.10 in 1992.

Junior Irene Mababa of San Pedro was another double winner with a 2:14.66 in the 200 individual medley and a 1:01.20 in the 100 butterfly. “I was really, really nervous,” Mababa said. “Now I’m just really, really happy.”

Henry Showers, who breezed to victory in the 500 freestyle and 200 individual medley, led Venice to the boys’ team title by a narrow margin over second-place Birmingham, 220-207.

Russell Perkins of Eagle Rock easily won the 50 and 100 freestyle events.