First published in the May 7 print issue of the Glendale News Press.
The Crescenta Valley High varsity boys’ swim team won five events and came out on top in the Pacific League finals, edging host Arcadia, 538-528, for the championship.
Sean Rho claimed the league title in three events, placing first in the 200-yard individual medley with a 1 minute, 55.27 seconds time and posting a winning mark of 51.67 in the 100 butterfly. The senior standout was also part of the 400 freestyle relay team — which included Ivan Rho, Arthur Movsesyan and Dylan Wee — that won the 400 free relay in 3:15.68. Rho also won a silver medal in the 200 medley relay (with a time of 1:39.99) along with Evan Yi, Wee and Petersen.
Ivan Rho also brought home a league crown after placing first in the 500 free (4:55.55) and Wee contributed two runner-up finishes in the 200 IM (2:01.36) and 100 breaststroke (1:01.65).
Another victory for the Falcons came in the 200 free relay event with Jacob Choe, Alec Puttler, Movsesyan and Petersen posting a winning time of 1:30.32.
Petersen posted two top-three finishes, placing second in the 50 free (22.66) and third in the 100 breast (1:02.07).
Movsesyan added two bronze medals in the 50 free (22.72) and 100 free (49.27), and Yi also recorded a third-place finish in the 100 backstroke (57.67).
Putter finished fifth in the 200 free (1:53.35) and 100 fly (54.87), and Aaron Choi also contributed to Crescenta Valley’s victory by placing fifth in the 500 free (5:25).
The CVHS girls’ squad turned in a solid performance in the league finals, garnering 382 points for a runner-up finish behind Arcadia, which tallied 528 points.
Jungmin Yoon led the Falcons with two individual victories, winning the 200 IM (2:09.08) and 100 back (58.53). She teamed up with Chelsea Hong, Gabby Young and Kyra Freemon for a second-place finish in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:48.68 and was part of the 200 medley relay team — which included Hasmik Ohanesian, Alice Kim and Hong — that was runner-up with a time of 1:59.47.
Kim also claimed a league championship, winning the 100 breast in 1:17.08 and teamed up with Shae Addiego, Freemon and Young to win a bronze medal in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:51.39.
Hong won silver medals in the 50 free (25.08) and 100 free (54.70), and Young brought home bronze medals in the 200 free (2:09.67) and 500 free (5:48.86).
Ohanesian contributed a fourth-place finish for the Falcons in the 100 breast (1:18.18) and Freemon added a fifth-place finish in the 100 free (1:00.03).
The CIF Southern Section swimming and diving championships are underway at the Marguerite Aquatics Complex in Mission Viejo.
Hoover’s Reyna Shines
The Hoover swim team let their presence be known in the Pacific League finals behind the performance of senior Massimo Reyna, who captured two individual championships.
Reyna won the 200 free with a time of 1:40.90 and 100 free in 45.94. He also teamed up with Oliver Baker, Branden Babaei and Rafael Gevorgyan to finish fifth in the 200 free relay with a time of 1:37.76. Reyna added another fifth-place finish in the 400 free relay (3:38.52) along with Aram Manasyan, Babaei and Govergyan.
The Tornados girls’ team posted two top-five finishes in the finals behind Adriana Harutyunyan, who was fifth in the 100 fly with a time of 1:08.42 and teamed up with the Sadie Bevan, Ellysee Baker and Leah Gomez for the 400 free relay and finished in 4:25.06 for fifth place.
Glendale Takes Home Bronze in Two Events
The Nitros recorded three top-five finishes and claimed third place in two events.
Liana Pooladi led the girls with a third-place effort in the 100 back (1:04.01) and also took fifth in the 200 IM (2:27.45).
On the boys’ side, Gregory Carrillo-Toyoshima, Arin Mirzakhani, Paul Agulian and Gevorg Choginyan finished third in the 200 relay with a time of 1:52.88.
