Vose paves way for Tologs

LOS ANGELES — In between helping win a pair of relay events, Kirsten Vose had enough energy to excel in her individual races.

The Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy freshman swimmer got stronger toward the end of her races and kept the Tologs unbeaten.

Vose won the 200-yard individual medley and the 100 breaststroke Thursday afternoon to spark Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy in a convincing 111-65 nonleague dual meet victory against Crescenta Valley at Loyola High.

In the boys’ portion of the meet, Loyola, the defending CIF Southern Section Division I champion, registered a 108-72 win against Crescenta Valley, which took third last season in Division III.

Vose captured the individual medley in 2 minutes 16.28 seconds and the breaststroke in 1:08.67.

“I just go out there and go as fast as I can,” Vose said. “I gave it all I could.

“In the breaststroke, I got a lot of power in my kicks and that helped me swim faster.”

Flintridge Sacred Heart (3-0) began the meet by winning the 200 medley relay, as Meg Ryan, Vose, Emily Balog and Eva Dulcich combined to clock 1:53.85. In the 400 freestyle relay, the meet’s final event, Ryan, Haley Shewfelt, Sarah Hughes and Vose won in 3:58.38.

The Tologs also got first-place finishes from Hughes in the 200 freestyle (2:09.97), Balog in the 100 butterfly (59.95), Ryan in the 100 freestyle (57.41) and Hannah Walleck in the 500 freestyle (5:55.68). Dulcich, Balog, Monica Pernecky and Claire Mudie worked together to capture the 200 freestyle relay (1:46.74).

Crescenta Valley (0-2) got a pair of first-place performances from Iva Icheva. The sophomore took the 50 freestyle (25.85) and the 100 backstroke (1:02.73).

Crescenta Valley Coach Pete Loporchio said the Falcons used the meet to get a better idea of their strengths and weaknesses.

“With Iva, she raises the bar for the other swimmers,” said Loporchio, who guided the school’s girls’ water polo team to the semifinals. “She’s a great person and she helps mentor the other younger swimmers.

“We used this meet as a barometer and we are still working our way into swimming shape after water polo. Flintridge Sacred Heart has a very talented team and this is an opportunity to find out more about ourselves.”

Crescenta Valley’s boys’ team won six events. Two Falcons won two races apiece.

Young Tae Seo, the two-time reigning All-Area Boys’ Swimmer of the Year, won the 200 individual medley in 1:53.31 and 100 breaststroke (58.72) for the Falcons (1-1). Harrison Thai took first in the 200 freestyle (1:44.19) and 100 backstroke (56.54) for Crescenta Valley, which also got a first-place effort from Edward Yi in the 100 butterfly (53.85).

Thai and Seo grouped with Jacob Ksendzov and Louis Wojciechowski to take the 200 medley relay (1:38.88).

Crescenta Valley Coach Jan Sakonju said the Falcons received a good test from the Cubs.

“If there’s a silver lining, it’s going up against the Division I champion and competing hard,” Sakonju said. “We knew it would be incredibly difficult meet to win.

“We wanted to go up against a team that could push us to the limit. Now, we’ll see how we react [for the next meet] and try to step it up that much more.”

Loyola turned to a local resident to kick off its season.

Senior Fred Abramyan, a Glendale resident, enjoyed a stellar meet. He won the 50 freestyle (21.12) and the 100 freestyle (46.84).

In addition, Abramyan worked with Patrick Brown, Kyle Otazu and Connor Johnson to win the 200 freestyle relay (1:29.41) and grouped with Brown, Otazu and Patrick Kropp, the younger brother of former Flintridge Sacred Heart standout Andrea Kropp, to finish first in the 400 freestyle relay (3:17.78).

“In the individual events, I put myself in the underdog role,” Abramyan said. “It helps motivate me that much more.

“When you are racing against some of Crescenta Valley’s swimmers, it gives you that extra edge.”

Loyola also got a first-place effort from Nick DeVito in the 500 freestyle (4:48.85).