Crescenta Valley Plans Deep Impact

Five years ago, Crescenta Valley High came out of nowhere to win the Southern Section Division II boys’ swimming title with just two individual qualifiers.

Since then, the Falcons have consistently been a threat in Division II, but haven’t won another team championship.

That could change Saturday night because the Falcons, with 10 individual qualifiers, are a favorite in the Division II finals at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

“All the right pieces have to fall into place,” Crescenta Valley Coach Pete Loporchio said. “In ’94 and ‘95, we probably had better teams, but other teams were better, too.”

With the exception of junior Kenny Carpenter, the Falcons probably won’t excel in many individual events. Carpenter finished second in the 100-yard butterfly and 100 backstroke last year and will compete in the butterfly and 200 freestyle this weekend. Travis Taylor and Michael Pak are likely finalists, but the key for the Falcons will be the relays.

For the first time, Crescenta Valley will have three strong relay teams. Points in relays are worth twice as much as individual events.

Last year, Crescenta Valley led going into the final event but didn’t have a 400 freestyle relay team--and wound up third behind Loyola and El Dorado.

“I kind of hope it comes down to the last event,” Carpenter said. “I’d like to have a chance to win it for the team.”

Hart, the Foothill League champion, will be one of the top challengers for the Falcons. The Indians aren’t as deep as Crescenta Valley but should place high in at least four individual events.

Junior Anthony Ervin of Hart, the most improved swimmer in the region from last year, is a threat to break division records in the 50 and 100 freestyles. Brian Malich of El Dorado won the 100 freestyle in 45.00 and the 50 in 20.52, both division records, last year. Unshaved and untapered at the league finals last week, Ervin had times of 46.89 and 20.92.

Ryan Parmenter of Hart, who finished third in the 200 individual medley and fourth in the 500 freestyle last year, will compete against Carpenter and Joel Everman of Notre Dame--the defending champion--in the 200 freestyle.

In league finals, Carpenter won the Pacific League title in 1:42.62, Parmenter the Foothill in 1:42.86, and Everman the Mission League in 1:45.34. Everman is defending champion in the 500 freestyle.

In the Division I finals tonight at 6:30 p.m., the emphasis for teams from the region will be on individual events.

Buena won the girls’ title from 1994-96, but senior Nicole Beck is the only one left from those teams. Beck was third in the 100 backstroke last year.

Jason Weber and Chris Adamick of Westlake, Aron Gyuris of Thousand Oaks and Ingrid Salazar of Royal are among those who have qualified for the finals tonight.

La Canada, which finished fourth, is the top returning girls’ team in the Division III finals, which will be held Saturday at noon.

Kim Feig of Louisville was third in the 100 backstroke and Jamie Zwick of Buckley was fourth in the boys’ 100 breaststroke a year ago.

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AND FINALLY...

WHAT

* Southern Section Swimming Finals

WHEN

* Division I, tonight, 6:30 p.m.

* Division II, Saturday, 7 p.m.

* Division III, Saturday, noon

WHERE

* Belmont Plaza, Long Beach