Boys swim: Sailors grab first CIF swim title

Steve Virgen

BELMONT SHORE - Just as Newport Harbor High senior Ryan Lean said,

it was as if a movie unfolded as the Sailors won their first CIF Southern

Section Division I Swimming and Diving title at Belmont Plaza Friday.

Call it, “The Party Crashers,” or even, “Woo,” as in one of the many

cheers the Sailors yelled in celebration after winning the meet by two

points over Mission Viejo. Newport needed to win the final event, the

400-yard freestyle relay, to win the CIF title.

“That’s the best part about it,” Newport Coach Jason Lynch said of the

Sailors winning their first CIF title. “It’s been a lot of fun this

season. It’s nice to end it this way. We’ve had our share of

disappointments.”

After Mission Viejo, which entered the CIF Preliminaries with a

seven-point lead after having a diver finish 10th, was disqualified in

the 200 free relay, the Diablos opened the door for the Sailors, who

stormed in and won three of the final four events. They also finished

second in two of the final five events, led by the Big Three: seniors

Aaron Peirsol and Lean and junior Andrew Cole.

The Sailors’ blockbuster included a star-studded cast of characters.

Newport’s hero: Peirsol, the three-time world-record holder and

backstroke king, who won two events (200 free, 100 backstroke) and

contributed in two victorious relays, the 200 and the school

record-breaking 400.

“That was such a good swim,” Peirsol said of the 400 free relay, which

he anchored after leadoff Andrew Cole, Lean and then Nathan Weiner

completed their 100 yards. “I’m stoked. (The CIF team title) eclipses

everything I did in that meet.”

Peirsol, who now owns seven CIF individual titles, captured his fourth

straight title in the 100 back in 47.69. The national public high school

record is 47.50. He also nearly broke the CIF Division I record in his

CIF-title winning swim in the 200 free, a 1:35.87. The record is 1:35.55.

Newport Harbor’s difference-maker came in the form of Cole, who

maintained his undefeated streak in the 200 free and won a CIF title by

two-hundreths of a second, out-touching Fountain Valley’s Kevin McCoy.

Cole also finished second in the 100 back and contributed with leadoff

swims in both of the winning relays.

“They relied on me and I gave them what they deserved,” Cole said of

the Newport boys swim team. “We really wanted that ring.”

The unsung hero? That would be Lean, who finished fifth in the 200 in

the CIF Preliminaries Wednesday, but finished third in the CIF Finals

Friday. He was out-touched by Dos Pueblos’ Daniel Beal, whose 1:40.67,

slightly beat out Lean’s 1:40.75. Lean also finished second in the 500

free (4:30.62) and was on both of the winning free relays.

“It’s just perfect,” Lean said of the Sailors first CIF swim title.

“You couldn’t plan it better. It’s just like a movie. We’re so stoked.”

Playing in supporting roles were Newport water polo standouts Weiner

and Michael Bury, who are attempting to make plans for a sequel. Perhaps

a CIF title in water polo.

Weiner completed a personal record 48.73 100 split in the 400 free

relay, as the Sailors finished in 3:07.11, smashing the former school

record set last year 3:09.97, that included Cole, Lean, Peirsol and water

polo star Peter Belden.

“I had to break 49 (seconds),” Weiner said. “I hadn’t done that all

year. All I can say is, awesome. I’m happy for the seniors. I know

they’ve been wanting this.”

Bury contributed to the Sailors’ 200 free relay victory (1:26.18).

“It’s just amazing,” said Bury, who joined the Sailors and Coach Jason

Lynch for a celebratory dip in the pool after the meet. “It doesn’t seem

like it’s happening. It seems unbelievable.”

Peirsol, Lean and Cole accounted for 110 points out of the Sailors’

198, and that excluding relays, in which the Big Three help amass 40

points for each victory.

“They came and did exactly what they needed to do,” Lynch said before

jumping into the pool. “They were great. Cole came through. They all did

what they were supposed to do and we got a little help.”