By Timithie NORMAN

After clinching the Pacific League titles at last week’s league finals at Burbank High School, both the girls’ and boys’ swim teams at Crescenta Valley High School are sending swimmers to Friday’s CIF Southern Section Division II preliminary meet.

For the boys’ team, the title marked its 20th in a row and 12th under head coach Jan Sakonju. With a handful of outstanding swimmers, the Falcons head into CIF with several top-seeded competitors including junior Harrison Thai in the 200 IM and 100 back, senior Louis Wojciechowski in the 100 free, and junior Young Tae Seo in the 500 free and 100 breast.

Falcon relay teams will also compete in the 400 free and 200 medley relays. Andrew De Jong, Thai, Seo and Wojciechowski currently hold the meet record in the 200-yard medley relay with a time of 1:33.79 established at last year’s CIF finals.

The girls’ team earned its fifth straight league championship and will be sending sophomore standout Iva Icheva to compete in the 50 free and 100 back, and senior Sabrina Hatzer in the 100 breast. Three relay teams including Icheva, Hatzer, Nayiri Kechichian, Jesse Gabor, Heather Abrams, Natalie Krebsbach and Maggie Connell will also compete in the 200 medley, 200 free and 400 free.

“Iva is realistically a finalist in both her events,” said girls’ coach Pete Loporchio. “Our goal for the relays would be a top 20 finish at CIF finals.”

Both teams are resting up and preparing for the prelim meet, to be held at 9 a.m. at the Riverside Aquatics Center.

  Timithie NORMAN