San Marino High boys’ and girls’ swimming teams welcomed a robust squad from Crescenta Valley High for a nonleague dual meet and a chance to test the waters against strong competition on April 3.
On the boys side, the Titans were nearly perfect, winning every event except one on the way to a 107-63 victory showcasing dominant showing.
“CV has certainly been really competitive, so my guys were up for it,” San Marino boys’ coach Casey Holcomb said. “They got to swim a few off events, but for the most part, they were swimming their best events and they swam well today.”
On the girls side, San Marino had the slight edge in event wins, but Crescenta Valley’s superior numbers allowed the visiting Falcons to rack up more points to win 98-70.
“Even shorthanded, we were tied at half and then just didn’t have the depth to finish it off, but the girls still swam well,” San Marino girls’ coach Mark Barr said.
The Titans boys’ win was keyed by senior Daniel Li and junior Otis Tsai, who both won all four events they entered. The work of Li stood out to the Crescenta Valley coach.
“He has always been special,” Jan Sakonju said. “To see his success in the pool is rewarding as a professional and as a colleague, to be happy for my friends coaching at San Marino that they get to coach someone as competitive, who works hard [and] has strong character.”
Tsai and Li were the first two swimmers in the Titans’ victorious effort in the first boys’ varsity event of the day: the 200-yard medley relay. They teamed up with senior Harrison Summers and sophomore Liam Thomas to post a winning time of 1 minute, 39.44 seconds.
The pair also was in the final event of the meet, the 400 freestyle relay, along with Thomas and junior Mark O’Mara. With Li anchoring the relay clocking in 47.89, the Titans won in a team time of 3:21.06.
Said Li of what was the best part of swimming for the Titans: “I think the people. The team for sure. It’s a very exciting atmosphere and the team makes it a lot better, too.”
Li’s first individual win came in the 200 freestyle in 1:45.57. He also took first in the 100 breaststroke as the only swimmer to finish in less than a minute, with a time of 55.67, a mark that would be an automatic qualifier in CIF Division I.
“I was only doing race reps so I wasn’t really expecting a best time,” said Li, who will be attending Stanford in the fall. “It’s good to get the reps in and the practice in what you are actually going to do at a big meet. So, I liked the results in the 100 breast the best probably.”
Tsai first won the 50 freestyle in 22.41, with teammates Ethan Yi and Thomas taking second and third. He later also finished tops in the 100 backstroke in 58.04.
The Titans also took the 200 freestyle relay. The team of Yi, Summers and brothers Grant and Mark O’Mara finished first in 1:34.31.
Summers also won the 100 butterfly in 53.70, with teammate sophomore Hughes Wang in second. Thomas won the 100 freestyle in 51.90 with Yi in second. Mark O’Mara was the third Titan to have one win in an individual event, posting a time of 4:52.63 in the 500 freestyle with Grant O’Mara in second at 4:58.42.
Falcons swimmer Dylan Wee prevented the Titan sweep, winning the 200-yard individual medley in 2:00.72 ahead of Mark O’Mara in second place.
The Titan girls won two of the three relays, but they split the eight individual events. San Marino had two swimmers win the maximum amount of four swim events in seniors Kiana Li and Maya Borkar, accounting for all four of the hosts’ wins in individual races.
Both of them kicked off the varsity side of the meet, swimming to victory in the 200 medley relay along with Leah Dean and Danica Lee in a time of 2:04.51. That group was the only one fielded by the hosts as Crescenta Valley took the points for second-, third- and fourth-place showings.
The pair also finished the girls’ side of the meet, winning the 400 freestyle relay, teaming with Dean and Sarah Tang in a time of 4:07.29. Kiana Li and Dean swam the back half of the event and ignited a come-from-behind win. The Falcons finished in the next three spots.
Kiana Li also notched two individual wins for the Titan girls. The senior won the 200 individual medley in 2:19.95, with Dean taking second.
“For my high school season it was [a personal best],” Kiana Li said.
The Pitzer College-bound senior then came back later to take the 100 breaststroke, posting a mark of 1:12.82.
Borkar also grabbed two individual wins, first in the 200 freestyle in 2:12.45. The senior then came back later to win the 100 butterfly in 1:04.48.
Crescenta Valley took first in the 200 freestyle relay as well as four individual swim events. Shae Addiego won the 50 freestyle, Michelle Khachatryan took the 100 freestyle, Emily Wong in the 500 freestyle and Sarina Lin in the 100 backstroke.
It was also senior day at the pool, which the Titans recognized during a break in the program, a highlight of the season for Kiana Li.
“It’s a one-time thing,” the senior said. “It only happens during your senior year, and it’s when all your friends come and it’s really fun and memorable.”
First published in the April 11 issue of the San Marino Tribune
