HIGH SCHOOL SPRING SPORTS DIGEST : AN EARLY GLANCE AT TOP TEAMS AND PLAYERS : Swimming : There May Be a Ballad to Sing Praises of the Name Ballard at Birmingham

Don’t be surprised if the name Ballard appears often in the results of any boys swim meet involving Birmingham High. No, there isn’t one dominating swimmer.

There are three Ballards: brothers Matt, Jason, and Christopher. The Braves, the defending West Valley League champions, are counting on a family effort for the 1987 season.

Matt, a senior, is the returning City champion in the 500-yard freestyle and has been clocked at 47.0 in the 100 freestyle, 52.0 in the 100 butterfly, 1:59.0 in the 200 individual medley, and 1:01 in the 100 breaststroke.

Jason, a junior, was a City finalist in the 200 freestyle in ’86. Christopher, a freshman with a 4.0 grade-point average, has gone 49.1 in the 100 freestyle, 1:47.0 in the 200 freestyle, and 4:52.0 in the 500 freestyle.

The key to the Braves’ girls team will be freshman Irena Kojono. She has been timed in 2:14.7 in the 200 individual medley, 1:09.0 in the 100 breaststroke, and 1:00 in the 100 butterfly).