High-Water Marks for Jenkins

James Jenkins ended his swimming career at Crescenta Valley High by successfully defending the sprint titles he won last season.

On Saturday, Jenkins won the 50- and 100-freestyle races in 20.47 and 44.65 seconds at the Southern Section Division II championships at Belmont Plaza.

Jenkins’ time in the 50 broke older brother John Jenkins’ school record and his time in the 100 bettered his own school mark.

Hart junior Mike Linn was second in both races, posting career bests of 20.93 and 46.45 seconds.

Jenkins and Linn dueled while Hart graduate Anthony Ervin, who set the division record in both events in 1999 and won an Olympic gold medal in the 50-meter freestyle in 2000, watched from poolside.

“I would have liked to have seen somebody break my records,” Ervin said. “Records were made to be broken, and if it happens, it only advances the sport.”

La Canada senior Alyssa Chin placed second in the 200 individual medley (2:06.52) and fourth in the 100 backstroke (57.21) in the Division II finals to cap a successful return.

Chin, who will attend Nevada on a swimming scholarship, focused on club swimming last year and did not compete for La Canada.

She chased St. Lucy’s Lauren Medina to the wall in the 200 medley but couldn’t catch her.

“That was an extremely good race,” Chin said. “The time wasn’t what I expected. But as long as I get the competition that I want, I’m happy with whatever time I get.”

Ventura senior Grace Peterson, who placed 12th in the 500 freestyle and 16th in the 200 freestyle at the Division I championships on Friday, was selected girls’ athlete of the year at the school.

Peterson will attend Oregon State.

Despite 2-6 records, it was a successful season for the Sherman Oaks CES boys’ and girls’ teams.

“It was really nice to see them improve in every meet,” said Darcy Swords, coach of the first-year program.

“We had a couple of kids that honestly didn’t even really know how to swim, and then we had a couple who had done some club swimming. But really, we’re a pretty novice team.”

The Knights also had a novice coach.

Swords, 27, a diver at Arroyo Grande High, gleaned information from friends who swam competitively.

“I was completely green,” she said. “But I had confidence, and I’m a very positive, optimistic person.”

Because of budget restrictions, the teams had only one formal workout session each week. So the swimmers had to work out on their own on other days.

Rene Rodriguez, a senior who swam the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles, as well as the butterfly, ranked among the best of the Knights.

Sophomore Arleen Grande showed promise before sitting out the last month because of shoulder problems. She competed in the 200 and 500 freestyles.

Junior Marta Portillo specialized in the 200 medley and the butterfly but was capable of swimming all four strokes competitively.

Samantha Rogers, a sophomore backstroker and freestyler, may have been the most improved swimmer on the girls’ team.

“I love working with the kids,” Swords said. “As a coach, I have to say, I loved it.”