Different Strokes: Viewpoint Wins Section Swim Titles for Boys, Girls

Things went just swimmingly for on Thursday at the Southern Section Division IV swim championships at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

Both the boys and the girls won team championships – a rare feat to sweep both genders.

“They were amazing,” coach Greg Bisheff said. “They definitely came out and performed. They’ve been working for this all year, and to see it come to fruition was really something.  The whole thing was a little overwhelming because it’s been a long process  To see it happen makes you have a loss for words.”

The boys repeated as champions. Some of the top performers were Dylan de Caussinm, Sean Gunn, Liam Gunn, Isaac Wender, John Brody, Brian Salomons, Matt Callahan and Devin Nagendran.

The girls standouts included Lilly Parks, Riley Cook, Zoe Pierrat, Kayla Mason, Natalie Brainin, Nina Leonard, Flora Tennant, Catherine Desoer, Lindsay Gartman and Sydni Hammar.

To celebrate, the coaches ended up in the pool – a custom similar to a Gatorade shower.

“Let’s just say they assist us into the pool. But it’s a swim we’ve always wanted to take,” Bisheff said.

The party continued at a nearby restaurant, Roscoe’s Chicken & Waffles.

“It’s a team tradition after the finals,” Bisheff said. “I’ve been coaching six years, and the first year, we had five or six kids there. On Thursday, we had about 30.”

So what about next season?

“The boys are going to lose a huge chunk of seniors,” Bisheff said. “They’ll be tough to replace, we have some good freshmen and some good kids coming up through middle school. Just like every year, someone always steps up.”

The girls graduate Cook and Leonard, but Pierrat, Mason, Hammar, Brainin, Gartman and Desoer are all underclassmen.

BIG DAY FOR BASEBALL

It’s a big day for Viewpoint’s baseball team today, as the Patriots (18-5, 7-0) take on rival Buckley (11-10, 6-1) at 4 p.m. for the Liberty League championship at Franklin Fields in Encino.

“I always want to win,” Viewpoint coach Frank Pontello said.

Viewpoint ace Tyler Sprague is not available after being hit in the chest last Friday by a comebacker while pitching against Crossroads.

“Oh my god, it was bullet. Tyler stayed in the game, but he’s still experiencing some discomfort,” Pontello said. “I think he’ll be OK for the playoffs.”

Alex Pachino is the scheduled starter. He’s 4-1 with a 3.00 ERA. Sprague is 5-1 with a 1.31 ERA. Alex Markun is batting .500 with two home runs and 21 RBIs.

Viewpoint won its first meeting against Buckley on April 15 when Buckley was forced to forfeit in the second inning when

FOOTBALL PLAYERS CATCHING ON AT CALABASAS

Spring football practice has begun, and one thing helping new quarterback Brandon Marin is a good batch of receivers, including Caleb Madden, Matt Guttridge and Devin Doyle.

“We’re looking pretty good,” first-year coach Christian Pierce said.

Calabasas also has a new running back in transfer Vince Hutchinson, a junior.

“He’s a good-looking kid,” Pierce said.

Hutchinson figures to compete with returnee Ryan Duong, who’s coming back from a knee injury.

CALABASAS FINISHES LAST IN BASEBALL

In a Marmonte League baseball finale Wednesday to decide which team does not finish in last place, Calabasas lost 8-5 to Thousand Oaks – the Coyotes’ fourth consecutive defeat.

Calabasas finished 9-18, 4-10.

“We didn’t end on a high note, but that’s OK,” pitcher Jacob Fields said. “After the game, we went behind the fence in the center field and had our own little tailgate party and just threw a football around. It’s just one of those things.”