The Wilson boys’ swim team has the longest league championship streak in California history in any sport, a streak currently sitting at 48 years. Since that streak began in 1972, the Bruins have lost just one dual meet in the Moore League–but host Long Beach Poly made a statement with an impressive 98-74 win over Wilson in the schools’ dual on Friday afternoon.
The Jackrabbits also defeated the Bruins five years ago, but lost at league finals and watched as Wilson celebrated the league title that year. It’s a feeling that head coach Eddie Kim and his team don’t want to feel again this year.
“I learned a lot from that five years ago,” said Kim. “I told our team, I’ve been there before. Act like you’ve been there before–step the training up. Win at the end of the year.”
That being said, Poly celebrated loudly in their home pool, with some swimmers climbing up on the diving tower to lead a cheer with their crowd and teammates. It was an event worth celebrating for Poly, as they won six of the 11 events.
“This is special, we’ve worked really hard for this,” said junior Colin Geer, who was on Poly’s winning 200 medley and 200 free relays, and who won the 200 IM and 100 backstroke. “We’ve talked about this so getting out here and executing it like I have before in my head so many times felt great.”
Geer echoed his coach’s sentiment that the dual meet was small potatoes compared to the league finals, where the league championship will be decided.
“We’re halfway there, we swam well today and we’re halfway there,” he said. “We know they have a lot left in them, we know that for sure.”
Wilson got big wins from Cal-bound senior Hank Rivers (200 free, 100 breast, 400 free relay) and Gray Carson, a star water polo player who’s signed with UCLA (50 free, 100 free, 400 free relay).
“We’re gonna continue to work harder” said Rivers. “Poly was a faster team than us today, but we’ve got more season to come.”
Other event winners for Poly were Mordox Sar (100 fly) and Evan Jue (500 free). The most exciting race of the day was the 200 free relay, which saw Poly’s Reece Hammond take the final leg with a lead over Rivers, who swam the last leg for Wilson. Rivers swam at a furious pace and was nearly even with Hammond when the two hit the wall, with Hammond out-touching him by 0.21 seconds as the crowd roared in the background.
Poly and Wilson will be joined by the rest of the Moore League at the league finals on April 28.
Event Winners
200 Medley Relay: Poly (Geer, Fourzon, Sar, Hammond), 1:35.68
200 Free: Hank Rivers, Wilson, 1:41.53
200 IM: Colin Geer, Poly, 1:51.88
50 Free: Gray Carson, Wilson, 0:21.41
100 Fly: Mordox Sar, Poly, 0:53.69
100 Free: Gray Carson, Wilson, 0:46.78
500 Free: Evan Jue, Poly, 4:40.94
200 Free Relay: Poly (Geer, Fourzon, Pruett, Hammond), 1:27.7
100 Back: Colin Geer, Poly, 0:51
100 Breast: Hank Rivers, Wilson, 0:55.26
400 Free Relay: Wilson (Carson, Dominguez, Torres, Rivers), 3:15.34
ROUNDUP: Long Beach Poly, Wilson Swim Meet Highlights Unparalleled Tradition
