PREP SWIMMING : Birmingham, Granada Hills Take Team Titles

Venice High failed to repeat as the boys’ team champion at the City Section swimming finals Wednesday at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach, but senior Henry Showers produced a dominating performance.

Although the Gondoliers lost the team title to Van Nuys Birmingham by 92 points, Showers won the 200 individual medley by nearly 12 seconds.

Showers’ time of 1:58.53 allowed him to finish nearly a pool-length ahead of second-place finisher Nils Nehrenheim of San Pedro.

In the 100 butterfly, Showers finished a close second to Eagle Rock’s Russell Perkins, who also won the 100 freestyle by more than two seconds in 47.99.

Birmingham did not win an individual event, but the Braves established a commanding lead with victories in the the 200 medley and freestyle relays.

Senior Erin Shaw and freshman Stephanie Shapiro won two individual finals and swam legs of a victorious 400 freestyle relay to lead Granada Hills to the its first girls’ title with 253 points, 67 ahead of second-place Venice.