Westlake swim team enjoying banner year
Boys and girls remain unbeaten and favorites to win Marmonte
By Kyle Jorrey kjorrey@theacorn.com

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers LIKE A FISH IN-Senior Jorge Sifontes competes in the 500 freestyle Tuesday. Sifontes is one of 11 seniors on this year's team that is favored to win a Marmonte League Championship.

Even an unrelenting downpour and one absent CIF official couldn't keep the Westlake swim team out of the pool Tuesday afternoon for a scheduled dual meet with Adolfo Camarillo. And although the times of the performance won't be official-thanks to the apparently hydrophobic gentleman from CIF- head coach Todd Irmas kept a positive spin on the event.

"Hey, at least it was a good chance to let everyone swim," Irmas said.

The coach's optimism is likely the result of what's been one of the best seasons ever for the Westlake swim program. As of today, both the boys' and girls' teams remain undefeated, with a combined record of 12-0 overall and 10-0 in league.

Irmas said both squads discovered their potential early when they defeated their stiffest competition and fiercest rival, Thousand Oaks, in dual competition. The girls prevailed 89-81, while the boys ran away with the contest, 107-63.

BILL SPARKES/Acorn Newspapers H 2 GO-Junior Kristin Harvey, above, and freshman Caitlyn Christensen, below, give it their all in Tuesday's rain-soaked event.

Irmas said the win was sweet revenge, especially for the boys, who finished just behind T.O. at the league championship meet last year.

"At that point, we knew were getting everyone back, so we said, 'Wait 'til next year,'" he said. "Well, next year came around and we really thumped them. That was a good feeling."

The boys are led by junior Kevin Critchlow, a do-it-all club swimmer who excels in the 200 and 500 freestyle, as well as the 100 butterfly.

"He is so versatile. We could pretty much throw him into any event and he'd more than hold his own," Irmas said. "That's the beauty of club kids. They're usually proficient at four strokes."

But Critchlow is the exception, not the rule, on this year's Westlake team. Unlike the majority of prep swim teams in California, the foundation of the Warrior boys' team is part-time, not full-time swimmers, many of whom are members of the WHS water polo team.

"For a lot of (water polo players), swimming is just a formality, they just do it to stay in shape for the next season," Irmas said. "But our guys have bought into what we're trying to do with swimming. They are focused. They want to win a league championship. It's important to them.

"That fact has made all the difference for us," he added.

Standouts that fall into this category include senior Nathan Nary, juniors Matt Kerchner and Austin Baker, and freshman Brent McCunney. This group, along with a handful of others, has helped the Warriors become the team to beat in the Marmonte League.

Irmas also gives a great deal of credit to the squad's 11 seniors, all of whom should have an impact at league championships in three weeks.

"This group of guys has been swimming varsity since they were freshman . . . they didn't have the luxury of swimming down to a lower level," Irmas said. "For four years, they've just been getting better and better, and after getting beat up for three years, we're kind of coming into our own and beating everybody else."

On the girls' side, it's swimmers from local clubs that are making the difference-primarily sophomore Aislynn Smalling, who sent shockwaves through Marmonte League last year when she recorded an All-American qualifying time in the 200 free as a freshman. This season she's been equally dominating, having yet to lose a single event in competition.

Though she's also a versatile swimmer who can compete in many events, Smalling's best races, according to her coach, are the 200 and 500 free. She also anchors all of Westlake's successful relay teams.

"She's totally gang busters. She loves to compete," Irmas said of Smalling. "She's the girl we've built this team around."

The other half of Westlake's super sophomore duo is Natalie Roman, another talented freestyler. After a sub-par season in 2005, Roman has been a force for the Westlake girls this year, and like Smalling, should automatically qualify for at least two CIF events, possibly more.

"She's really hitting her stride," Irmas said.

But likely the biggest reason for the girls' success is the addition of this year's freshman class, which is made up of several highly-touted club swimmers, including Jacquie Brousseau and Meagan NorlingChristensen.

"We've got some outstanding freshmen who've really put us over the top," Irmas said.

This weekend the Warriors are heading north to the Fresno area for the Clovis West Invitational, a topnotch meet featuring many of the top swimmers from Central and Northern California.

"We're hoping this will prepare the kids from the kind of competition they're going to see once they reach CIF," Irmas said.

CIF prelims begin Fri., May 12 at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach. League finals are May 2-4.