Hart Barely Keeps Head Above H2O

LA CRESCENTA —  The fortunes of the Crescenta Valley and Hart high swim teams took nearly as many turns as the swimmers did completing their laps.

Just when it appeared the Indians would lose, they rebounded to upset Crescenta Valley in the boys’ and the girls’ meets of a nonleague showdown between two of the top teams in the region Tuesday at Crescenta Valley.

Hart, last year’s runner-up to Crescenta Valley in the Southern Section Division II championships, won the boys’ meet, 90-80, erasing an eight-point deficit in the last two events and ending a Falcons’ dual-meet winning streak of 69 that dated to 1992.

The Hart girls, who have won the last 16 consecutive Foothill League titles but had never beaten Crescenta Valley, edged the Falcons, 87-83, after leading at the halfway point of the meet, losing the edge when the Falcons won the next four events, and finally gaining it back by winning the last three races.

“It’s the best dual meet I’ve been in in four years,” said senior Ryan Parmenter, who won the 200 individual medley the 100 breaststroke, in the second-to-last race.

Parmenter’s victory in the 100 breaststroke in 1:02.16 led a Hart sweep of the top three places in the event. Sean Kakumu took second and Gary Garon was third to give the Indians 13 points and wipe out a 73-67 Crescenta Valley lead and gave Hart an 80-76 edge.

Parmenter swam the anchor leg of the Indians’ 400 free relay that included Jon Terwilliger, Eric Pritchett and Michael Linn in the last event of the meet. The Indians (5-0) won the race and took third place to clinch victory.

The Indians (5-0) got victories in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 free by Anthony Ervin, defending Division II champion in both events.

The Hart girls (5-0) also came from behind, erasing late Crescenta Valley leads of 71-69 and 79-77 with a victory and a third-place showing in the 400 free relay, in which the Indians outscored the Falcons, 10-4. Hart won the race by .5 seconds in 3:50.40.