Boys swimming: “One of Newport’s best ever”

Joseph Boo

NEWPORT BEACH - Of all the high schools in all the counties in all

of the world, Aaron Peirsol has to attend Newport Harbor High.

Newport Harbor’s boys swim coach Brian Kreutzkamp is certainly happy

about this match. The sophomore Peirsol has the third fastest American

time in the 200-meter backstroke, CIF Southern Section titles in the

100-yard backstroke and 500 freestyle, a silver medal in the Pan-American

Games and a good chance to be the second high school swimmer in the last

25 years to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team.

But Kreutzkamp also knows this affair is fleeting. Peirsol will not join

the Sailors until the end of March as he swims in senior club team meets.

After that, he is planning to train with his club, Irvine Novaquatics,

for most of the season. Peirsol will only swim in one or two dual meets

for Newport to qualify for CIF, where he will be favored whatever events

he chooses.

“Whenever we can get him is fine with me,” Kreutzkamp said.

With Peirsol’s selective contribution, sophomore Ryan Lean could be

Newport’s most valuable swimmer. Lean finished 10th in CIF in the 500

freestyle as a freshman. Like Peirsol, Lean is a club swimmer who will be

out until late March because of senior meets. But he will be with the

Sailors for the rest of the season.

“Lean and Peirsol give us two club swimmers who placed in CIF and can win

CIF,” Kreutzkamp said.

The rest of Newport’s swimmers should be familiar to most of the Tars’

rivals in the Sea View League. The Sailors are returning most of last

year’s team and also welcome Stanford-bound water polo standout Brendon

Hansen, who had played volleyball his first three years..

Returning juniors Peter Belden and Joey Snelgrove were CIF qualifiers

last year. Along with Peirsol, they are returning from last year’s 200

free relay team that set a school record.

Senior Kurt Thayer, junior Ryan Cook and Hanson are freestyle sprinters

who rose out of some tough competition within the team.

“I have too many sprint freestylers,” Kreutzkamp said. “I’m trying to

turn some of them into long-distance swimmers and make them better in

other strokes.”

Senior Robert Weiner, a CIF qualifier, and junior Kyle Bean are the 100

butterfly swimmers. Senior Mitch Probert and juniors Sean Marks, Brandon

McClain and Shaun Johnson swim the 100 breaststroke.

Juniors Steven Jendrusina, Caine Littrell and Greg Worthing join Peirsol

in the 100 backstroke. Littrell and Worthing will also swim the 200

individual medley.

Paul Kepner was a CIF qualifier in the 200 individual medley and he will

also compete in the 500 freestyle.

Junior Brian Pence is another 500 freestyle and 200 IM swimmer.

With a wealth of experience, Newport has a good chance to be the

second-best team in the Sea View League, behind powerful Irvine.

“We have a lot of depth,” Kreutzkamp said. “We have a very good team, one

of Newport’s best ever. We have a lot of guys who qualified for CIF last

year.”

Kreutzkamp is hoping to send enough of his swimmers to CIF to make the

trip a memorable one. And with Peirsol expected to be the favorite in two

events, one thing is clear for him and Newport: They’ll always have CIF.

Roster

Kyle Bean Jr.

Peter Belden Jr.

Ryan Cook Jr.

Ryan Gough Sr.

Brendon Hansen Sr.

Steven Jendrusina Jr.

Shaun Johnson Jr.

Paul Kepner Sr.

Ryan Lean So.

Caine Littrell Jr.

Sean Marks Jr.

Brandon McClain Jr.

Aaron Peirsol So.

Brian Pence Jr.

Mitch Probert Sr.

Joey Snelgrove Jr.

Kurt Thayer Sr.

Robert Weiner Sr.

Greg Worthing Jr.

Coach: Brian Kreutzkamp