Crescenta Valley to Take Plunge in Preliminaries

Joey Castellani, Steve Grivno and Daniel Fekete took turns hurtling themselves off 1- and 3-meter springboards this week, but that doesn’t mean Crescenta Valley High will take a dive.

The Falcons, three-time defending Southern Section Division II champions, are again among the favorites entering swimming preliminaries today at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

Crescenta Valley’s divers already have provided the team with 35 points. Castellani placed second, Grivno was sixth and Fekete was 12th in the diving finals Tuesday.

For the Falcons, who lack the depth of past championship teams, the diving points are crucial.

“This is a great jump,” Coach Jan Sakonju said. “We’re right there in the running. It’s going to depend on what happens [today] and how many people get back for finals [on Saturday].”

Divers were instrumental in Crescenta Valley winning last year’s title, scoring 29 points. The Falcons ended up defeating second-place Loyola by 32 points.

“[Diving] swung it last year,” Sakonju said. “I don’t think we’re the front-runner, but we should do well again.”

The Falcons are led by James Jenkins and William Ban. Jenkins, defending champion in the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, has posted the fastest times among division competitors in both events this season. Ban has the seventh-best time in the 200 freestyle and is ranked 14th in the butterfly.

“The guys aren’t really looking to go after any one team, they’re after a championship,” Sakonju said. “They’ve got the approach that they’re going to swim their best and we’ll see where the points fall.”

Hart is taking the same approach. The Indians finished fifth last year and boast more swimming depth this season. They were division runners-up to Crescenta Valley in 1998 and ’99.

Hart relies on sprinter Mike Linn, backstroker Igor Bistric, medley specialists David Deloria and Kent Klawer, and breaststroker Sean Kakumu. The Indians are especially strong in relays, where points are doubled.

Several Mission League swimmers will contend for titles, including Brendan Everman of Notre Dame, Matthew Jensen and Patrick Denice of Chaminade, Danny Behrens and Daniel Parlato of Crespi and Joel Tourtellotte of Alemany.

Crescenta Valley also might have the best team in girls’ competition. The Falcons, who finished second to Santa Margarita last year, will be challenged by Alemany, Upland, Fullerton Troy, Irvine Northwood and Irvine University. Santa Margarita has moved up to Division I.

“I think we’re in a good position,” Crescenta Valley Coach Peter Kim said. “But it’s wide open. I think we would have to not only swim our best, but we need a little luck too.”

The Falcons have senior leaders in Alexis Sheridan (distance events), Tawne Fishback (100 butterfly and breaststroke) and Kim Hitch (backstroke).

The top 16 swimmers and relay teams advance to finals beginning at 4 p.m. Saturday.