Disqualification Keeps Irvine in Second

In the decisive event at the Southern Section boys’ swim relays Saturday, a judge’s decision helped determine the champion.

Irvine was leading La Crescenta Crescenta Valley by nine points before the 4 X 50 medley relay at Belmont Plaza pool, and needed to finish among the top five to win. But on the last leg, a judge disqualified Bryce Turi for leaving the block early.

“That’s swimming,” Crescenta Valley swimmer Evan Robb said. “Sometimes a referee’s decision will go against you and sometimes it goes your way.”

It went Crescenta Valley’s way, and it won the meet with 181 points. Irvine was second with 162.

“I think it was just a bad call on the judge’s part,” Irvine Coach Ken Dory said. “I could make a big scene, but I won’t because I don’t want to embarrass the kids.”

Los Alamitos’ Tim Haney, Mike Harrelson, James Ahn and John Pearce won the event in 1 minute 42.35 seconds.

In the 4 X 50 breaststroke relay, the relay team of Matt Brandenburg, Kareem Elsemri, Daniel Kim and Steve Ronson knocked more than two seconds off the record they set during the preliminaries Thursday, finishing in 1:52.58. Ronson was the key, with an anchor split of 25.3.

“I was just wanted to break 26 [seconds],” said Ronson, a senior. “But a 25, and not even shaved, I just can’t believe it.”

In the 4 X 100 individual medley, Laguna Hills took advantage of three disqualifications to win in 3:50.93. Los Alamitos, which had the fastest entered time, was disqualified because of an illegal turn.

Villa Park won the 6 X 50 freestyle relay, just edging Foothill with a time of 2:15.80. Kyle Baumgarner, Brian Pharris, Dan Tognazzini, Mark Verzani, Aaron Gutsu and Peter Cornue also swam on the winning relay.

Santa Margarita posted some impressive victories in the 4 X 100 freestyle relay (John Peterson, Frank Uxa, Matt Shipstead, Philippe Demers) and the 4 X 50 butterfly relay (Peterson, Devon Jensen, Uxa, Demers).

Demers, who just returned from Olympic Trials, swam an anchor butterfly time of 23.41.