1996 BOYS’ SWIMMING AND DIVING PREVIEW : SIX TEAMS TO WATCH : IRVINE

Coach: Ken Dory (eighth year).

1995: 10-0, 5-0 in the Sea View League; beat Woodbridge and El Toro to win the league title; finished 10th in the section’s Division I finals.

Key returners: Mike Bilek, Jr.; Matt Clymer, Sr.; Garrett Greer, Jr.; Nate Kunishige, Sr.; Josh Malpas, Sr.; Ross Mulholland, Sr.; Steve Ronson, Sr.; Doug Tabbert, Sr.; Bryce Turi, Jr.; Jeremy Vallone, Sr.; Chris Vyn, Sr.

Key newcomers: Eric Birkelbach, Fr.; Michael Choi, Jr.; Kareem Elsemri, Fr.; Fred Evans, Jr.; Daniel Kim, Fr.; Bobby Lanza, Fr.

Outlook: With a strong group of freshmen, Dory believes the team will go far. Though the Vaqueros have lost some talent to graduation, he thinks this year’s team is better than last year’s. “We have a lot of depth this year, which is very good for dual meets,” Dory said. Many of the freshmen swim for clubs. “They have experience and know what they are doing. They’ll be helpful on relays.” Ronson, the team’s best swimmer, recorded three national swim standard times with his swim club during the fall and winter.