Carpenter Takes New Tack in Crescenta Valley’s Win

Kenny Carpenter is always being told to be careful.

Is your shoulder stretched? Are you warmed up? You sure you’re ready to get in the water?

Carpenter, a swimmer at Crescenta Valley High, is always asked by his father, Fred, if all the parts are working.

After all, the college football career of Fred, who used to hold a high school total-receptions record in Texas, was cut short by injuries.

Kenny was more than sound in helping lead Crescenta Valley to the Southern Section Division II swimming championship Saturday at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

Carpenter won the 200 freestyle in a strong 1:39.03 and followed that with a Division II-record 49.47-second clocking in the 100 butterfly for his school, which finished with 259 points.

Guilty of being overly concerned with his competition in the past, Carpenter tried a different approach.

“Usually, I’m always looking at the charts and who I’m going to have to beat,” said Carpenter, who also swam the 200 freestyle and 400 free relays. “This time, I was like, do my best and anything else will be icing on the cake. That mind-set seemed to work.”

For the girls, Laguna Hills, on the strength of several strong relays and individual wins by Shauna Barnhard in the 200 individual medley and 500 free, won with 261 points.

Freshman Jessica Hayes won the 200-yard free in 1:49.42 and the 100 free in 51.48 for University, which finished fourth with 193 points.

In Division III girls, South Pasadena won the final event, the 400 free relay, in a Division III-record 3:37.14 to finish with 160 points and vault over Cathedral City for first.

For the boys, Justin Boyes won the 200 individual medley in 1:53.82 and the 100 butterfly in 51.44 to help Paso Robles finish first with 243 points.