Swimming Season Preview: Wilson aims to break her own records at Burroughs; Burbank rebuild underway
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There’s not much more Burroughs High swimmer Maya Wilson has to accomplish for this season.
The former two-time All-Area Swimmer of the Year has already etched her name in the Indians’ school record book, owning the top times for all eight individual events entering her senior campaign.
Still, that doesn’t matter.
Wilson, who’s committed to UCLA, will look forward to once again besting her own times times, as well as helping Burroughs compete against top Pacific League teams like Crescenta Valley and Arcadia.
For Burbank, first-year co-coaches Mike Lucero and Justin Klotzle look forward to seeing what their young core can do in hopes of competing against the two aforementioned powerhouses in league.
Here is a closer look at the teams.
BURROUGHS
Burroughs aquatics put the final touches of their record-holding banner that is set above the campus pool. On the left, the boys’ names of record-holders are much more diverse than the right that displays the girls’ names.
All eight girls’ panels read “Maya Wilson.”
“It’s pretty cool,” Burroughs coach Jacob Cook said. “She’s looking to break all of those again, so I’m going to have to get all of those panels replaced. Or at least a good amount of them.”
At the Pacific League finals in 2019, Wilson broke the league record in the 100-yard freestyle in the first leg of the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 51.95 seconds, eclipsing a mark set in 1992. She also captured a league title in the 100 butterfly in 55.58.
In the the CIF Southern Section Division III finals in Riverside in May, Wilson captured a title in the 200 freestyle in 1:49.94, earning All-American consideration.
Wilson will be part of a strong relay team consisting of sophomore Liliana Noriega, junior Elana Merrit and senior Ema Nathan.
“We’re looking to break those and improve on what’s already there,” Cook said. “The girls’ side is looking really good. I’m really excited for them.”
A promising swimmer on the boys’ side will be sophomore Justin Cloutier, who captured the junior varsity league title in the 200 freestyle last season.
Cook expects Arcadia and Crescenta Valley to be top contenders in league.
“If we have fast swims and my swimmers are improving, then that’s all I can ask for and that’s all I really want,” Cook said.
BURBANK
Lucero and Klotzle have begun to build for the future and are looking to give powerhouses Crescenta Valley and Arcadia stiff competition, backed by a well-conditioned freshmen and varsity programs.
“We should have a stronger team than the last few years,” Lucero said. “We do have some strong club swimmers that are continuing to get faster. One of the things that I really liked that Klotzle suggested when we got together is that we have a freshmen team that trains with us, but doesn’t compete with us to build up the future of the program.
“We’re just trying to build the team’s base stronger than it’s been. Again, we’re really excited having a freshmen team where we’re training them, that way, going into the season, we’re ready to go. We’re conditioned.”
Burbank will turn to four freshmen in Gigi Hopson, Ani Rostomyan, Emma Gasparyan and Alina Biryuchkova to help spearhead the Bulldogs girls’ varsity squad in individual and relay events.
Alongside the young core will be senior twins Simone and Geneva Bethel, who should help guide the newcomers.
“They work hard all year long,” said Klotzle of the sisters. “They’ve spent four years in this swim program. It’s a big commitment from them and they may not be the fastest, but they’re always helping and they’re strong. They’re huge contributors.’
On the boys’ side, Bulldogs junior Arson Rostomyan and senior Ryan Feldman are solid individual swimmers expected to also contribute on the relay squads.
Burbank will also benefit from a transfer in senior Michael Jones, who will team up with Rostomyan and Feldman in the relays.
“We should be able to hold our own near [Crescenta Valley and Arcadia], which we’ve never been able to do,” Lucero said. “Strong third. Why not? It’s a tough league.”