It Isn’t Even a Close Shave for Cavic

Tustin’s Michael Cavic set two Southern Section records and won three titles Saturday at the Division III swimming finals at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

Cavic, who swam unshaven and without tapering his training as he focuses on the world championships in July, set Division III records in the 100-yard butterfly and the 50 freestyle, leading Tustin to a fifth-place team finish.

The Tillers finished with 147 points, one-half point behind Atascadero. Paso Robles won its second consecutive title with 250 points. Palm Desert was second with 198 and Pasadena Poly was third with 185.

Cavic, a junior, set his freestyle mark while swimming the lead leg of Tustin’s winning 200 freestyle relay. Cavic recorded a 20.21, just .04 seconds off the national record. His time beat the Division III mark of 20.71, set by Downey’s Brian Jacobsen in 1991.

Seniors Carl Kasalek, Josh Yocam and Anthony Spezza rounded out the relay squad. The same four finished third in the 400 freestyle in 3:17.27.

In the butterfly, Cavic finished in 48.26, smashing the record of 49.33 set by Santa Maria Righetti’s Randy Hartley in 1992. Cavic also won the 100 backstroke in 49.85 and led the 400 freestyle relay team to a fourth-place finish with a 44.33 split.

“I didn’t expect to do anything great today,” Cavic said. “But I’m really happy with the meet. We lose a lot of seniors this year, so next year we won’t be that strong. I’ll shave and taper next year and see what happens.”

Spezza, Tustin’s only other individual finalist, took fourth in the 200 freestyle (1:46.54).

Ocean View’s Nelson Suarez had two third-place finishes, in the 200 individual medley (1:58.52) and the 100 backstroke (49.85).

Whittier La Serna defended its girls’ team title, winning with 279 points.