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Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week: Ryan Lean

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Steve Virgen

Imagine being punished for working too hard at something. Picture

your most prized activity being taken away from you because you gave too

much to it, in the first place. This was Ryan Lean.

Lean, a senior team captain of the Newport Harbor High boys swim team,

suffered from tendinitis in his shoulders and had to take a month

(December) off from swimming to lessen the pain. The month away from

swimming also challenged Lean’s psyche and gave him two options: Allow

the tendinitis to break you down. Or take on this battle and beat the

odds.

Lean chose the latter.

His comeback trail has included two Orange County-best times in the

500-yard freestyle (4:36.0) and 200 free (1:44.77) and contributions in

three Millikan/Southern Section Relays Championships titles, including a

meet record 4x100-yard freestyle, at Belmont Plaza April 15.

“I just remembered how much I love (swimming) and how much I missed

it,” Lean, the Daily Pilot Athlete of the Week, said of resting for one

month. “Every day, I wished I could have hopped in the pool. When you are

training, you’re like: I’m so tired of this. But when it’s gone you

really start to miss it. (The month’s rest) has motivated me more to get

back and train, I remember how bad it was just watching everyone else

train.”

Lean, who also swims for Irvine Novaquatics swim club, also had to

hear about his club teammates’ trip and eventual success at the National

Championships in Minneapolis, Minn., last month. Yet, though he was a bit

disheartened, his absence in the event last month strengthened his cause

in high school competition.

“I was pretty bummed,” Lean said of missing the nationals. “I could

have been at nationals and been swimming good, too, like Hayley (Peirsol)

did. Obviously, Aaron (Peirsol’s) record is pretty inspirational too. I

was pretty stoked to see that.”

Lean, who has been close friends with Aaron Peirsol since the two were

8, is determined to make this season memorable for the seniors, including

himself, Peirsol and Brad Dillman.

However, before he continues to achieve success, he must remember to

pace himself. He can’t over-work himself again. That will only lead to

more intense tendinitis.

“I’ve just been taking it easy,” said Lean, who described himself as

mellow and laid back. “I kind of just go with the flow. That’s why high

school swimming is nice; it’s just having fun. I really don’t want to

rush (my recovery). I’m happy with the way things are going. I’m going to

add more yards slowly (in my training). Maybe in July I’ll be up in

normal training.”

Lean, who is bound for Cal Berkeley, hardly showed signs of holding

back last week. He won the 200 free and the 100 backstroke in automatic

CIF qualifying times, and also swam the anchor leg in the Sailors’

victorious 200 free relay, leading to a 97-71 Sea View League victory

over Laguna Hills April 10.

Lean also won the 200 free, swimming his county-best 1:44.77, and the 100 free, and took part in Newport’s 200 and 400 free relays in a dual

meet against Irvine, April 12.

Then, three days, later, Lean contributed in all of the Sailors’ three

victories at the Millikan Relays at Belmont Plaza, which included titles

in the 6x50 free and the 4x50 backstroke.

“I actually think (the tendinitis) has helped him in a way,” Newport

Coach Jason Lynch said. “It forced him to take time off and then get back

into training with less volume and less intensity for a while. But, he’s

pretty fresh and pretty strong right now. He’s swimming real well. He’s

been really dedicated with working out.”

Lean calls a CIF individual title in the 500 free, “my main focus.”

Last year, he finished third in the 500 free. Lean also said he wants to

help the Sailors win a league title at the Sea View League finals and win

a team CIF championship.

“That’s something we can do; it’s possible,” Lean said.

With Lean, it seems as if anything is possible.

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