Buena Sets Sights on Number 3

Buena High junior Rebecca Gilman isn’t concerned about losing the 500-yard freestyle at the Channel League swimming finals last week.

Gilman, who has won four individual Southern Section Division I championships the last two seasons, was upset by Alexis Binder in her best event.

But Gilman has been in this position before.

In 1994, Gilman lost the league 500 freestyle title to Sarah Nichols of Rio Mesa, then overwhelmed the field in both the 200 and 500 freestyle at the Division I finals.

Gilman, along with senior Erin Schatz and sophomore Nicole Beck, help make Buena the heavy favorite to win its third consecutive team title in the Division I finals at 7 tonight at the Belmont Plaza pool in Long Beach.

“I should be able to come back,” Gilman said. “It wasn’t one of my best swims, but it woke me up and I’ll be ready.”

Gilman, Beck and Schatz, who has signed with Clemson, each won two individual events in the same meet last year, enabling Buena to cruise to a 146 1/2-point victory over second-place Fountain Valley.

In some cases, the toughest competition for Buena swimmers might come from their teammates. Schatz was beaten by junior Liah Kim in the 200 individual medley at the Channel League finals.

Although a third title--and fourth in five years--appears inevitable, the end is in sight for Division I rivals. Due to a restructuring of the Ventura school district, Buena lacks any freshmen with the talent of Gilman, Schatz, Beck or Kim.

In the Division II finals Saturday night at Belmont Plaza, the Crescenta Valley boys’ team and the Hart girls’ will be trying to improve on their runner-up finishes of last year.

The Hart girls’ team will rely on juniors Becky Skyler (50 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and Monica Oleksyn (100 breaststroke). Saugus sophomore Heather Boylan is the defending Division II champion in the 100 backstroke.

Flintridge Sacred Heart is the defending Division III champion, but lost most of its depth from last season. La Canada and Harvard-Westlake, the 1994 champion, could challenge for the girls’ team title.

Freshman Jennifer Parmenter of L.A. Baptist, the top high school-age swimmer in the region, will compete in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke.