BURBANK LOOKS TO END HART'S HOLD ON FOOTHILL SWIMMING TITLE.

Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News

Burbank High's Julian Miranda was the only swimmer, male or female, from outside the Santa Clarita Valley to capture a Foothill League individual title last year, winning the boys' 50-yard freestyle.

This season, the Bulldogs' last before they join the Pacific League, Miranda might be departing with another championship: the team title.

After a second-place finish in 2004 and a third-place effort last year, Burbank (8-0) is determined to end the reign of nine-time defending league champion Hart of Newhall. The Bulldogs were the last team before the Indians to win the Foothill title, defeating Hart 440-435 at the 1996 league championships.

This year's group, which features Marc Anunta, Greg Fields, David Nelson, Miranda, Soo Ho Park, Aram Simonian and Kyle Vickery, boasts the depth necessary to lead Burbank back to the top.

"It would be a fun way to go out," said Bulldogs coach Adam Wright, a senior at Hart in 1996.

"We'd love nothing more in our last year than to take their title."

A victory over Hart (3-1) would give Wright vindication in more ways than one. He was a member of the last Indians team to lose a Foothill dual meet, an 86-84 decision to Burbank in 1996, and Wright's false start in the 200-yard freestyle relay determined gave the Bulldogs the victory.

The Indians have since won 49league meets in a row and today goes for No. 50 against Canyon of Canyon Country at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center.

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