Crescenta Valley Comes Close, but Doesn’t Get Swimming Title

LONG BEACH — It almost came down to a watching and waiting game for Crescenta Valley High.

The Falcon boys’ team, seeking their first Southern Section Division II title since 1993, had to sweat out the final event--the 400 freestyle relay--before discovering they finished third behind Loyola (232 points) and El Dorado (210) on Saturday night at Belmont Plaza.

Crescenta Valley’s best swimmers, Kenny Carpenter, Steve Kim, Evan Robb and Michael Pak had first-place finishes in the 200 medley relay (1:36.16) and second in the 200 freestyle relay (1:27.28).

Those points plus an individual title by Robb in the 200 individual medley (1:52.15) and two second places by Carpenter put the Falcons in contention. But it wasn’t enough as the Falcons, without a team placing in the 400 freestyle relay, scored 190 points.

The Hart girls’ team finished third, with 155 points, behind Laguna Hills (270.5), and Peninsula (174.5).

Becky Skyler, who won the 50 free, has signed with Oregon State. She had been a finalist in multiple events the past two years but had never won an event.

And it appeared she might not have the stamina to qualify for the finals after a bout with mononucleosis and surgery to remove growths in her mouth early this year.

But she finished the 50 in 24.77, beating Tiffany Yates of Santa Monica by .08.

“I’m surprised and I’m happy,” Skyler said. “It’s been a long season but a great way to end it.”

Skyler also finished second in the 100 butterfly. Monica Oleksyn won her third breast stroke title in 1:06.83.

Anthony Ervin and Ryan Parmenter also fared well for the Hart boys.

Ervin was second in the 100 freestyle, timing 46.39, finishing only behind Brian Malich of El Dorado, who broke his own division record with a time of 45.00. Ervin was also third in the 100 backstroke (52.09).

Parmenter was third in the 200 individual medley in 1:54.48 and fourth in the 500 freestyle despite being slowed by a shoulder injury.

Joel Everman of Notre Dame, who finished third in the 200 and 500 freestyle last year, acclimated himself well to the role of favorite this year.

The top qualifier in both events, Everman caught Crescenta Valley’s Steve Kim at 125 yards and went on to win the 200 freestyle in 1:41.96.

“I knew he was going to go out fast,” Everman said. “I just wanted to keep up and go all out for the last 100.”

Everman added a second victory in the 500, finishing in 4:31.29, less than a half-second ahead of Craig Taylor.

Heather Boylan of Saugus defended her titles in the 200 and 500 freestyle, winning the 200 in 1:52.71 and the 500 in 4:55.83.

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* DIVISION III

La Canada’s girls take fourth for best finish by a team in the region. C12