Laguna Hills Swims to Division II Title

The Laguna Hills High girls’ swim team made its final appearance in the Southern Section Division II championships a memorable one Saturday at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach.

The Hawks, who are moving to Division I next season, won their fourth consecutive Division II title with 280.50 points--115.50 more than runner-up Irvine University.

Laguna Hills was led by senior Shauna Barnard, who won the 200-yard intermediate medley in 2 minutes 6.81 seconds and the 100 backstroke in 56.21 seconds. Barnard accounted for 65 of her team’s points and was named girls’ swimmer of the meet.

The Crescenta Valley boys won their second consecutive Division II championship behind senior Kenny Carpenter and junior Travis Taylor. Carpenter won the 200 freestyle in 1:40.10 and Taylor the 500 freestyle in 4:31.64.

Newhall Hart’s Anthony Ervin won the freestyle sprints, setting division records with times of 20.32 seconds in the 50 and 44.28 seconds in the 100.

In Division III, Mira Loma Jurupa Valley waited until the final event of the meet--the 400 freestyle relay--to clinch its third girls’ title in four years.

The Jaguars outscored defending champion South Pasadena, 166-161, by winning the relay in a division record 3:36.34.

Paso Robles easily made it back-to-back titles in the boys’ division with 271 points, 90 ahead of Yucaipa. The Bearcats won behind sophomore Justin Boyes, who won the 200 individual medley in 1:53.83 and finished second in the 100 butterfly.

Pasadena Mayfield freshman Carly Geehr set division records in winning the 200 individual medley in 2:02.35 and the 500 free in 4:46.51.