Alexander Moshensky Wins Two City Swim Titles

He didn't break the record like he wanted, but Hollywood High senior Alexander Moshensky had a triumphant meet nonetheless at Friday's City Section Swim Championships at the John C. Argue Stadium in Los Angeles.

The Sheiks' standout performer won the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard backstroke events and and swam the opening leg on Hollywood's 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay teams.

As a result of Moshensky's dominance, the Sheiks finished 10th overall in the boys competition with 76 points. Cleveland was first with 385 points

Moshensky had to battle all the way to the wall in his first event, the 200-yard individual medley, but out-dueled Palisades freshman Tristan Marsh to win by 0.14 seconds in 2:00.69.

"I dropped three seconds off my time, which is good," said Moshensky, who swims for Hollywood Swimming Club after the high school season. "He really pushed me. He had a couple leads, but I wasn't going to let him win."

Moshensky had hoped to challenge the City Section record of 52.93 in the 100-yard backstroke but had to settle for winning easily — by more than one second — in 54.53. As a 10th-grader, he won the 200-yard individual medley but finished second in the 100-yard backstroke.

"Next year I'm going after the records," said Moshensky, who has been swimming for 11 years but didn't get serious about the sport until the age of 12. "I've still got one more year so I'm confident I can do it."