SD Prep Sports

SD Prep Sports: Swimming

San Diego Section 2005 Championships

Norsemen swim fastest, claim boys Division II CIF title

By Phillip Brents

Posted May 31, 2005

The Valhalla High School boys swim team returned to familiar waters by winning this year’s San Diego Section Division II team title. The swim championship was the second for the Norsemen in three years of competition at the Division II level and added to Division I titles previously captured in 2000 and 2001.

Overall, Valhalla was won five CIF titles since 1985 and finished runner-up five times.

Valhalla topped runner-up Coronado 198.5 to 130 to win this year’s team title. Last year’s champion, the Valley Center Jaguars, failed to place among the top 10 teams this year.

"It was a great prelims and finals for us. We more than achieved what we had expected to do," Norseman coach Kent Houston said. "Our focus for a year now was to win this CIF. We knew last year when we came in second to Valley Center that this was our year. We had only one senior on the team and everyone else returning. We knew we had the top 2 divers in the county, the best medley relay, and probably top three 4x100 relay."

Houston credited the team’s all-around depth as a contributing factor. "Our biggest concern all year was our 4x50 (200 freestyle) relay. I felt all along that in order to win CIF, we had to place all three relays in the top six. Our middle relay did not involve any of our four best swimmers all year, so it was a big concern," the Valhalla coach said.

However, Houston noted that about a month ago, Brandon Kelch said he would be willing to give up the 100 freestyle at the division finals in order to swim in all three relays. "This was the key to our getting that relay into the top six. Brandon, one of our top four swimmers along with Frankie Russo, Steven Amberg and Bryan Zitren, all had their fastest times of the years at prelims and our relay qualified fifth. That set the tone for the rest of the team, as we knew our top swimmers would be top six," Houston said.

The Norsemen got their points parade rolling on May 17 as Tanner Knorr and Ethan Fabrikant finished first and second in the boys one-meter diving competition at Mesa College. Knorr entered the nine-person field as the defending champion and totaled 403.65 points through 11 dives. He finished with 351.35 points last year. Fabrikant finished as the runner-up for the second consecutive year with 316.60 points. He tallied 284.15 points last year.

Valhalla’s championship surge essentially continued from there at the swimming championships May 21 at Rancho Bernardo High School. The Norsemen quartet of Joe Rizk, Wes Thompson, Carlos Rivera and Kelch combined to win the meet-opening 200-yard medley relay in 1:39.45, easily besting the prelim time of 1:42.06.

Before the meet was over, Rizk would earn first-place medals in both the 50 freestyle (21.54) and the 100 backstroke (53.48) with school record times while Rivera won the 100 butterfly (52.12) and finished runner-up to Rizk in the 100 backstroke (55.88).

Rizk bested both his prelim times -- 22.26 in the 50 freestyle and 55.27 in the 100 backstroke -- while Rivera also bettered his prelim times (53.09 in the 100 butterfly and 56.85 in the 100 backstroke). Rizk, who captured this year’s Grossmont South League championship in the 50 freestyle in 22.63, moved from fourth to first in winning the 50 free at the CIF finals.

Rivera won the league title in the 100 butterfly (52.99) and 100 backstroke (56.85). Both his times at the Division II championships were personal bests.

Rivera finished second in the butterfly stroke at last year’s finals while Rizk was second in the backstroke.

"On the day of CIF every swimmer swam faster than their prelim time and we moved up in places in several events," Houston said.

Thompson, who won the Grossmont South League title in the 500 freestyle (5:04.49) and 100 breaststroke (1:02.85), finished third in the 200 individual medley (2:03.15) and tied for fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:02.22). Both times were personal bests.

Kelch teamed up with Rizk, Thompson and Rivera to cap off a perfect day while winning the meet-closing 400 freestyle relay in 3:17.43, a four-second drop from its previous best on the year. The quartet had finished third in the 400 freestyle relay last year

Valhalla finished fourth in what Houston termed the key 200 freestyle relay with Amberg, Russo, Zitren and Kelch.

Overall, Valhalla qualified seven swimmers for individual events for this year’s boys prelims. Kelch qualified as an alternate in the 200 freestyle while Russo qualified as an alternate in the 200 IM, dropping six seconds to finish 12th.

Other Norsemen who qualified for this year's prelims included Amberg (100 breaststroke), Matt Saunders (100 breaststroke). Russo also qualified in the 100 backstroke.

"Our hopes, of course, are to come back and win next year, although we will greatly miss Carlos Rivera, Brandon Kelch, Bryan Zitren and Ethan Fabrikant," Houston said. "Those athletes accounted for one individual gold, two individual silvers and two relay gold medals this year. However we are returning Joe Rizk, a four-time gold medalist, Wes Thompson, four medals, Frankie Russo, Stephan Amberg, and a lot of young swimmers along with Tanner Knorr, our 2 time CIF champion in diving. So the future looks good, but we know we have our work cut out for us."

Grossmont, this year’s North League champions, finished seventh in the team standings with 83 points. West Hills followed in eighth place with 74 points.

Justin Canty helped provide West Hills’ highlights by winning the 200 freestyle (1:42.67) and 500 freestyle (4:35.98). The finals times easily topped his respective prelim times of 1:45.96 and 4:52.91. He won both events at last year’s CIF finals, timing 1:43.78 and 4:44.49 for the respective distances.

Also for West Hills, Robert Perez finished third in the diving competition with 248.30 points.

Overall, West Hills qualified swimmers for six individual events for this year’s boys prelims. Scott Kendrick qualified for the consolation finals in both the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke.

Other West Hills swimmers who qualified for this year's prelims included Shane Daunis (100 butterfly) and Alex Perry (50 freestyle).

Grossmont’s David Lefstein placed second in the 200 IM (2:02.43) and fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:16.85) while Foothillers teammate Kyle Oates was fourth in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.74).

Grossmont finished third in the 200 medley relay (1:42.85).

Overall, the Foothillers qualified swimmers for five individual events at this year's boys prelims. Matt Clements qualified for the consolation finals in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle) while Oates qualified for the consolation finals in the 50 freestyle. Grossmont's 200 freestyle relay team also qualified for the consolation finals.

Timothy Downing (500 freestyle) and Scott Booth (100 backstroke) both qualified as alternates in their respective events while Devin Ross (100 butterfly) also was a prelim qualifier.

Grossmont and West Hills qualified for the consolation finals in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

Among other East County swimmers, El Cajon Valley’s Steven Myers finished fourth in the 100 backstroke (58.20) while Monte Vista’s Amand Kasimatis was fifth in the 100 butterfly (53.48). Also for Monte Vista, Steve Reistetter captured the consolation title (seventh place) in the 100 backstroke (59.29). Steele Canyon’s Tyler Ramer finished sixth in boys diving with 224.30 points.

Myers also qualified for the consolation finals in the 50 freestyle while Reistetter (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke) and Kasimatis (100 backstroke) also qualified to swim events in the consolation finals.

For Steele Canyon, Jason Stacks (200 freestyle, 100 backstroke) qualified for the consolation finals while the Cougars qualified for the consolation finals in the 200 freestyle relay. Steele Canyon qualified as an alternate in the 400 freestyle relay.

For Santana, James Cooper (500 freestyle, 100 backstroke) qualified for the consolation finals in a pair of events.

Christian had a presence at this year's Division II finals as well. For the Patriots, Josh White finished third in the 500 freestyle (4:51.48) and fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:47.67) while John DiFederico (100 butterfly) qualified for the consolation finals while teammate James White qualified as an alternate in 100 breaststroke.

Also qualifying for this year's prelims in individual events were El Cajon Valley's Salih Govian (100 butterfly), El Capitan's Jared Radtkey (2900 IM, 100 butterfly), Monte Vista's Peter Jones (100 backstroke), Mt. Miguel's Jason Venable (100 breaststroke), Santana's Christian Holdman (50 freestyle), Steele Canyon's Jake Byron (500 freestyle), Robby McIntyre (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle) and Christian's James White (200 IM).

Rounding out this year's parade of Division II individual champions were University City's Gari Altimirano (200 IM, 1:59.18), Coronado's Dallas Chase (100 freestyle, 48.02) and St. Augustine's Kenny Oredina (100 breaststroke, 58.83). La Jolla captured the 200 freestyle relay (1;30.42).

Division I notepad

Fast times by North County swimmers dominated this year’s Division I finals, with both Granite Hills and Helix failing to finish among the top 10 teams. The top five teams were all from the North County: Carlsbad (first), Torrey Pines (second), Fallbrook (third), La Costa Canyon (fourth) and Poway (fifth). Scripps Ranch (seventh), Vista (eighth) and Rancho Bernardo (ninth) rounded out the top 10 teams (eight from North County).

During the regular season, Granite Hills finished just four points behind Valhalla (2005 CIF Division II champions) for the Grossmont South League championship.

Jacob Bairnum and Kevin Luna represented the Eagles in the boys division competition on May 20 at Mesa College, Bairnum finished fourth with 272.30 points while Luna placed seventh with 235.35 points. The top six place-finishers earned medals.

Overall, Granite Hills qualified swimmers in nine individual events for this year’s boys prelims. Justin Lekos qualified for the consolation finals in the 200 freestyle while Sean Scenna qualified for the consolation finals in the 200 IM.

Granite Hills qualified for the consolation finals in both the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay.

For the Eagles, Sean Little qualified as an alternate in the 100 backstroke while Granite Hills qualified as an alternate in the 200 freestyle relay.

Helix’s Daniel Ramirez qualified for the consolation finals in the 50 freestyle. The Highlanders qualified as an alternate in the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay.

Qualifying for this year’s prelims for Granite Hills were Wes McDonald (100 freestyle), Remington McKittrick (200 IM, 500 freestyle), Lekos (100 freestyle), Scenna (100 breaststroke) and Little (200 IM) while Robert Nihei (200 IM, 100 butterfly) and Ramirez (100 freestyle) qualified to compete in the prelims for Helix.

Carlsbad’s Spencer Rodman won both the 200 freestyle (1:41.86) and 500 freestyle (4:34.58) while Fallbrook’s Daniel McClary captured titles in both the 200 IM (1:54.86) and 100 butterfly (50.79). Other individual titles went to Vista’s Jon Rielly (50 freestyle, 21.53), La Costa Canyon’s Jeff Giddens (100 freestyle, 47.42), Carlsbad’s Andres Carreras (100 backstroke, 52.86) and Poway’s Steve Zech (100 breaststroke, 58.29).

Carlsbad set a new section record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:37.15. The old record of 1:37.63 set by Mt. Carmel had stood since 1982.