Palihi Girls Swim to Second Straight Title

It was less a competition than a coronation for the Palisades High girls swim team at Friday's City Section Championships at John C. Argue Stadium in Los Angeles.

The Lady Dolphins rule the pool for the second straight year after a dominating victory that left all who witnessed their triumph wondering if they are in the middle of another dynasty. Palisades racked up 458 1/2 points, laps ahead of runner-up Cleveland (385) and third-place Granada Hills (224).

Unlike last year, when the outcome was not decided until the very last event, there was little drama after the first few races Friday, much to the liking of , who didn't get to experience last season's thrilling victory because she was on maternity leave.

"Adam [Blakis] did a great job coaching last year and I'm glad I was able to share in this one," said Nance, who joined her swimmers for a celebratory dip after the final scores were announced. "It was somewhat bittersweet because of the drama we had beforehand, but that aside it was a fabulous meet, the kids swam so fast and it was fun."

The "drama" to which Nance was referring centered around the eligibility of Palihi girls , and , who had to prove they filed forms to swim unattached at a club meet earlier in the year. Kogan and Rossie were cleared but Deva, a freshman, had to be pulled from Friday's meet. 

"The girls proved they are the best in the City," Nance said. "They worked hard for this and I'm super proud of them."

At first it appeared Cleveland might provide a challenge as it did last spring when it lost by a mere five points. The Cavaliers' 200-yard medley relay began the meet by upsetting Palisades' foursome of , , and , who had the fastest qualifying time Tuesday. 

However, the Dolphins took the overall points lead in the next event, as four girls were in the championship finals of the 200-yard freestyle. Sophomore was first in 1:58.39, junior  was second in 2:04.77, senior captain  was sixth and freshman  was seventh. 

In the 200-yard individual medley, Palihi sophomore edged San Pedro freshman Samantha Loper by .01 seconds in the consolation final, then Rossie (a freshman) and Fullerton (a senior) were third and fourth in the championship finals.

As Friday's meet progressed it became clear this school of Dolphins simply had too much depth and too much talent.

Vitous won the 500-yard freestyle, Fields was third and Mara Silka was fourth. Palisades' 200 freestyle relay team of Rossie, Vitous, and won in 1:44.66, over two seconds faster than runner-up Granada Hills, and Kogan won the 100-yard freestyle in 54.14. 

Deva's absence moved Rosenbaum up a slot to No. 8, giving her a chance to swim in the championship final of the 100 freestyle. She had been placed ninth only after a swim off, having tied for eighth-place in qualifying. 

The girls 400-meter freestyle relay team of Vitous, Silka, Fields and Rossie gave the Dolphins a strong finishing kick, winning the final event by nearly three seconds in 3:44.91.

Palisades finished fourth in the boys team competition with 272 1/2 points.

The Dolphins' 200-yard medley relay squad of , , and won by over two seconds in 1:44:02 with each clocking a personal-best time. Amis swam the freestyle leg in 21.7 seconds, Siegel swam the butterfly in 25.5 seconds, Pronichenko swam the breastroke in 29.4 seconds and Hacker swam the backstroke in 27.1.

Hacker was runner-up in the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle--both sectional cut times.

Freshman , a standout in the Junior Lifeguard Program at Will Rogers State Beach, was runner-up in the 200-yard individual medley (out-touched at the wall in a thrilling race with Hollywood junior Alexander Moshensky) and the 100-yard butterfly.

In the most exciting finish of the meet, Amis and Christian Diehm of San Pedro tied for first place in the 50-yard freestyle in 22.19 seconds. Amis had clocked 22.17 at prelims three days earlier. Amis and Diehm did battle again in the 100-yard freestyle and this time Amis won convincingly in 48.89 seconds, bettering his qualifying mark of 49.53.

Palisades' 200-yard freestyle relay team placed fourth and the 400-yard freestyle relay team of Amis, , Hacker and Marsh won a spirited race over top qualifier Granada Hills in the final event of the day. 

The boys team came within three points of second place last spring and had high expectations Friday.

"We were hoping for second, so this is a little disappointing," Pronichenko said. "The medley relay was great because we all swam our best times, so we're happy with that. Overall, though, we expected better."

2011 LA City Swim Championships

Girls Team Scores

1. Palisades -- 458 1/2

2. Cleveland --385

3. Granada Hills -- 224

4. Birmingham -- 201.5

5. Venice -- 192

6. El Camino Real -- 158

7. Marshall -- 105

8. San Pedro -- 81

9. Carson -- 63

10. Huntington Park -- 62

Palisades Individual scorers (and times): 

200 medley relay finals--2nd in 1:57.53.

200 freestyle finals--1. Alexandra Vitous, 1:58.39; 2. Tatiana Fields, 2:04.77; 6. Samantha Rosenbaum, 2:08.80; 7. Ellen Silka, 2:09.59.

200 individual medley consolation--1. Cynthia Jinno, 2:31.04.

200 individual medley finals--3. Jayme Rossie, 2:20.07; 4. Zoe Fullerton, 2:21.14.

50 freestyle consolation--5. Eve Baryotam, 27.54.

50 freestyle finals--2. Evelina VanNorden, 26.26; 6. Mara Silka, 26.78.

100 butterfly consolation--4. Cynthia Jinno, 1:09.28.

100 butterfly finals--3. Zoe Fullerton, 1:03.02.

100 freestyle consolation--2. Eve Baryotam, 59.61.

100 freestyle finals--1. Hannah Kogan, 54.14; 8. Samantha Rosenbaum, 1:00.34.

500 freestyle consolation--4. Susan Chicas, 6:19.69.

500 freestyle finals--1. Alexandra Vitous, 5:15.48; 3. Tatiana Fields, 5:34.15; 4. Mara Silka, 5:40.51.

200 freestyle relay finals--1st in 1:44.66.

100 backstroke consolation--4. Gretchen Kallmeyer, 1:12.50; 5. Lynn Whang, 1:12.67; 7. Susan Chicas, 1:14.95.

100 breastroke finals--3. Jayme Rossie, 1:11.60; 4. Evelina VanNorden, 1:12.35; 6. Sabrino Giglio, 1:14.14; 8. Olivia Marsh, 1:17.22.

400 freestyle relay finals--1st in 3:44.91. 

Boys Team Scores

1. Cleveland -- 385

2. Granada Hills -- 311

3. Birmingham -- 305

4. Palisades -- 272 1/2

5. San Pedro -- 148 1/2

6. Venice -- 135

7. Marshall -- 104

8. Van Nuys -- 82

9. El Camino Real -- 77

10. Hollywood -- 76

Palisades Individual scorers (and times): 

200 freestyle relay finals--1st in 1:44.02.

200 freestyle consolation--2. Michael Lukasiak, 1:57.57.

200 freestyle finals--2. Andrew Hacker, 1:48.60.

200 individual medley consolation--8. Stephen Kang, 2:19.78.

200 individual medley finals--2. Tristan Marsh, 2:00.83.

50 freestyle finals--1. JJ Amis (tied with Christian Diehm of San Pedro), 22.19.

100 butterfly consolation--5. Henry Siegel, 59.45; 6. Siddarth Prabhu, 1:00.36.

100 butterfly finals--Tristan Marsh, 54.14.

100 freestyle consolation--4. Michael Lukasiak, 53.90.

100 freestyle finals--1. JJ Amis, 48.89.

500 freestyle finals--2. Andrew Hacker, 4:51.95.

200 freestyle relay finals--4th in 1:32.63.

100 backstroke consolation--3. Ben Kent, 1:02.46.

100 backstroke finals--8. Gabriel Connolly, 1:03.37.

100 breastroke consolation--2. Theodore Kim, 1:08.99; 5. Ogulcan Yetke, 1:10.02.

100 breaststroke finals--6. Anton Pronichenko, 1:06.72.

400 freestyle relay finals--1st in 3:22.03.