Peirsol comes up big, again

Around the college sports scene faster than Aaron Perisol can swim

the 200-yard backstroke: Well, not that fast, but here is a look at

what’s going on.

Peirsol, the former Newport Harbor High standout, left anyone who

saw him in awe Saturday at the NCAA Swimming and Diving

Championships. The University of Texas freshman broke the American

record in the 200 back in the preliminaries, and then out-did himself

in the final. Peirsol, the world-record holder in the 200-meter back,

became the first man to go under 1:40 in the 200-yard back.

He finished in 1:39.16, nearly a full second faster than the

original record, set in 1995 by Brian Retterer of Stanford in

1:40.06.

Peirsol was also named NCAA Swimmer of the Year. A no-brainer,

since he also helped the Longhorns set two American records in relay

events, the 200 and 400 medley relays.

So what is Peirsol doing now?

Resting.

“I’m going to take in a well-deserved break this week,” said

Peirsol, who also mentioned he is enjoying the college experience at

Texas. “This record is just icing on the cake. The whole college

experience is just fun. It’s a whole new whole new world and I’m just

trying to enjoy every minute of it before it flies by.”

Peirsol’s “week off” won’t last as long as he would want. He said

he has been keeping up to date and watching the Texas men’s

basketball team, which has advanced to the Final Four for the first

time since 1947. He would watch the Longhorns this Saturday when they

face Syracuse, but Peirsol will compete in, “The Duel in the Pool,”

the U.S. vs. Australia meet which is on Saturday and Sunday in

Indianapolis.

Peirsol is being marketed as one of the premier swimmers of the

event that will be televised by NBC, April 12 and April 13. It might

be difficult to recognize Aaron. He cut his hair, which used to be a

bit of a trademark. It looked like he never combed it, yet his curly

hair added to his charm. Now he has a flat-top-like, clean-cut

hairstyle.

“It will grow back,” Aaron said.

* At Mississippi, Ole Miss, Charlie Waite, a Newport Harbor

product, has been one of the best catchers in the Southeastern

Conference, in regard to defense, this season. He leads the SEC with

13 runners caught stealing, and he’s also one of the Rebels’ leading

hitters, with a .302 batting average.

He recently went 2 for 4, yet the Rebels lost to Mississippi State

March 30. Mississippi State is now ranked fifth in the nation by

Baseball America.

* At Army, Lisa Huntington, also a former Newport Harbor

standout, has been continuing her steady rise, which started last

year. She leads Army with a .368 batting average through 13 games.

She also leads the Black Knights (7-6, 2-0 in the Patriot League

Conference) with eight RBIs.

Huntington, who plays first base, went 2 for 4 with two RBIs to

help the Black Knights close out a sweep of Lafayette, 7-1, in the

Patriot League opener.

Last year, Huntington made an immediate impact as a freshman. She

started the season as a designated hitter then filled in for injured

four-year starter Chrissy O’Hara. Huntington earned second-team

all-conference honors last year, and she went 2 for 6 in the NCAA

Tournament to close out the year with a .297 batting average, the

second highest among the newcomers and sixth overall.

Now, Huntington is continuing her hot streak.

* Some not so good news for Brittany Reitz, a freshman at Purdue

and a former Corona del Mar tennis standout. After a rather

successful fall season, Reitz will not be able to compete in the

spring, because she will be recovering from a knee injury, according

to the school’s athletic website.

Reitz, the CIF Southern Section singles champion in 2001 and a

high school All-American, posted a 9-2 singles record and a 10-2

doubles mark in the fall.