Indians, Bulldogs split rivalry meet
BURROUGHS HIGH — Burroughs High swim Coach Danny Garcia had an inkling prior to his cross-town rivalry meet against Burbank.
He knew that with the right preparation, mindset and focus, his team could pull out a victory.
It was a hurdle which proved hard to overcome in each of the three years Garcia has coached at Burroughs. The adversary was a tough Bulldogs team, and more specifically, the Burbank’s boys’ squad.
“They’re always kicking out butts all over the place,” said Garcia, a 2006 Burroughs graduate and former swimmer for the Indians.
Wednesday, however, was a different story, as the Burroughs boys edged Burbank, 87-82.
“Their dedication and motivation the past week has been insane,” Garcia said of the Indians. “I kind of went in knowing that something good was going to happen.”
Burbank Coach Chris Goldberg said the Indians looked prepared for the cross-town clash.
“Over time, it was just a slow leak in our lead,” Goldberg said. “They were ready for us. We just weren’t prepared enough and they just barely beat us.”
The Indians weren’t able to sweep their rivals, as the Burbank (5-3 in league) girls bested Burroughs (4-2 in league), winning their half of the meet, 98-74.
Burroughs’ Chad Wilson, Carson Caldwell, Casey Ueno and Chris Reithel teamed up for the 200-yard freestyle relay, breaking a nine-year school record with a 1 minute 31.10 second finish.
Wilson, Ueno, Reithel and Kevin Ueno together broke another long-standing record, finishing with a 3:22.51 in the 400 freestyle relay to break a 15-year mark.
Garcia said the boys swimmers intended to break the records against Burbank.
“They were all ready to go,” he said. “They just had the mind frame.”
Goldberg said the fate of the meet came down to a few selected events.
A couple breaking points were the last race,” Goldberg said. “especially the relays. Their relays really shined today. I wasn’t ready for that at all. The 200 freestyle was more of a shock to me.”
Wilson won the 200 freestyle with a CIF automatic qualifying time of 1:49.11 and took the 100 butterfly with another CIF automatic qualifying time of 54.56.
Kevin Ueno received a first-place finish (2:12.41) in the 200 individual-medley, Reithel won the 50 freestyle with a CIF automatic qualifying time of 22.01 and Reece Morgan took the 100 breaststroke (1:07.74).
For Burbank, Chris Mitlilian Brian Kwon, Nathan Jo and Alex Lambert teamed up to claim victory the 200 medley relay.
Lambert also won the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, while teammate Ryan Savoy took the 500 freestyle.
On the girls’ side, Burbank’s Bell Mingcharaenwong claimed first place in the girls’ 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, April Hishinuma, Mingcharaenwong, Gabi Rodriguez and Jordan Card took the 200 medley relay and Hishinuma, Rodriguez, Seika Ha and Mingcharaenwong finished first in the 400 freestyle relay.
“This is something I’ve been waiting on them to do all season,” Goldberg said of the Burbank girls’ swimmers.
Erika Green won the 200 freestyle (2:10.88) for Burroughs. She also took the 100 backstroke (1:09.58).
The Indians’ Savannah Simmons finished first in the 50 freestyle (26.36) and won the 100 freestyle (59.56), Marie Yonkers took the 100 butterfly (1:08.39) and Green, Ahsha Earwood, Andrea Young and Simmons won the 200 freestyle relay (1:49.81).