SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Swimming

Metro Conference 2K4 Finals Diving Preview

By Phillip Brents

Posted May 12, 2004

The Metro Conference's diving corps will put its collective talent on display Friday, May 14, at the Loma Verde pool in Chula Vista, beginning at 3 p.m.

Leading the Hilltop diving unit is defending Metro champion Kyle Kovar, who won the San Diego Section Division II championship as a sophomore and placed runner-up last year.

The Lancer standout has approached his senior season with much more focus - and the results appear to be paying off. He set a school and league record for six dives earlier this season, and has broken the mark twice, pushing the school record to 263 points. However, he is still chasing the school record for 11 dives held by his father.

"One of my goals was to score higher in six-dive competitions this year. Another goal was to add to my list for CIF," Kovar said.

Kovar is also a threat in swimming events, winning the 500-yard freestyle in a meet earlier this season against Marian Catholic and topping the field in the 100-yard breaststroke in the South Bay League championship dual against Mar Vista.

The Lancers continue to own one of the conference's largest and most talented diving units. Alan Flores placed third at last year's Metro dive championships, meeting the standard to advance to the CIF finals. Another surprise could be Fernando Yates, who finished fourth in the South Bay League championship meet against Mar Vista.

Sofia Murga, who placed fifth at last year's conference finals, also has showcased her swimming ability this season by winning the 50-yard freestyle in a dual meet against Marian Catholic (in which Hilltop won all events).

Briana Sneddon, who finished sixth at last year's Metro finals, took first place in the 100 butterfly in the dual meet against Mar Vista to also showcase her multi-ability.

Mar Vista's diving unit is led by Kim Forrest, who set an unofficial school record with 193.95 points in the meet against Hilltop. She is joined by teammate Charisma Battad.

At last year's conference finals, Forrest placed second in girls competition while Sean Crampton was fourth and Isaac Engram was eighth in the boys competition.

The Mariners dove three boys in the meet against Hilltop: Engram, Crampton and Chris Hammer. Engram (136.2 points) finished second to Hilltop's Kovar (179.9) while Crampton (134.9) was third.

Back to challenge Forrest are Eastlake divers Samantha Womer and Ashley Perez.

Womer won the conference title as a sophomore but finished fourth last year behind third-place Perez.

Womer is back for her senior year with a positive attitude, though she said she is not placing any undue pressure on herself. "I just want to have fun and not stress about anything because it's my last year. If I win, I win. If I lose, at least I still had fun," she said.

In a dual meet April 29 against Bonita Vista, Perez emerged on top of the six-dive card with a score of 195.5 points to Womer’s runner-up tally of 182.05.

Chula Vista senior Bryan Flitcraft is completing this third varsity sport this school term after participating on the Spartans' boys water polo team in the fall and roller hockey team in the winter. He also serves as a stage tech for the school's show choir, Main Attraction. He is a very busy individual — and also talented.

Flitcraft placed second at last year's Metro diving finals and took fourth in the 50 free finals, moving up from seventh place from the previous year. He is seeded fourth in the 200 IM this season after dropping eight seconds in Tuesday's prelims.

Earlier this season, Flitcraft flirted with the 200-point mark in a six-dive dual meet. He is being chased in the diving competition by teammate Ian Tisdale, who scored 153 points to hand him one loss this season.

Alan Gonzales topped Bonita Vista teammate Dennis Schulz (11th at last year's finals) by less than one point in dual meet competition this season. Both should provide an added competitive edge to Friday's competition.