CITY SECTION SWIMMING FINALS: SECOND, AGAIN : VENICE WRESTLES ANOTHER TITLE FROM EL CAMINO REAL.

Byline: Heather Gripp Daily News Staff Writer

In a way, it was an unfamiliar situation for the El Camino Real High boys' swim team.

The Conquistadores possess so much depth, they cruised through the regular season without winning ever much in doubt. They were among the favorites for a team title entering Wednesday's City Section finals at Belmont Plaza but ended up keeping a close watch on the scoreboard when defending-champion Venice remained strong.

``I don't know about the rest of the guys, but I'll be watching,'' El Camino Real senior Josh Williams said halfway through the meet when his trailed by a narrow margin. ``I'd like to see exactly what they're all doing. We just have to wait. It all depends how the numbers add up at the end.''

When the numbers were totaled, El Camino Real found itself in a familiar position - behind Venice. Just like last year, the Conquistadores placed second to Venice; this time the Gondoliers won 256-219.

In what has become almost an annual tradition on the girls' side, Granada Hills High won the championship. The Highlanders topped second-place San Pedro by more than 100 points.

The El Camino Real boys knew they were in for a tough night when they opened with a third-place finish (1:46.21) in the 200-yard medley relay. Venice took first in the event.

The Conquistadores won six of the eight individual events, while Venice won just one but knew all along that relays would be the key because of the events' heavy point value. El Camino Real won the 400 freestyle relay and Venice took second. But finished fourth in the 200 freestyle relay, which Venice won.

``The relays relay took us out of it,'' said senior Nathan Bayliss, who won two individual titles for the Conquistadores in addition to swimming on relay teams. ``We did the best we could do. We swam hard. I'm pretty proud of what I did, but I'm really proud of the whole team.''

Bayliss won the 200 freestyle (1:50.82) and 500 freestyle (5:02.78). Teammates Josh Williams and Brian Brown were also double-winners. Williams earned titles in the 100 freestyle (50.16) and 100 breaststroke (1:03.45), and Brown won the 200 individual medley (1:59.50) and the 100 backstroke (56.04). Although their team didn't win, Bayliss, Williams and Brown were rewarded for their accomplishments with shared Swimmer of the Meet honors.

Granada Hills junior Katherine Nielson, was named the girls' Swimmer of the Meet. She won two individual titles, as well as relay championships, despite being weak from a cold.

The Granada Hills title was never in question as the Highlanders dominated nearly every event. The only events they did not win were the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle, both of which were taken by Amy Jones of Cleveland.

``We expected to win,'' Nielson said. ``This is just a lot of fun for us.

``It's always a race against the clock. There are always records to be broken. Records, best times, that's what we go for.''

Granada Hills set two more City records Wednesday. The Highlanders broke the 3:43.32 record they set at last week's prelims with a 3:41.12 finish in the 400 freestyle relay and clocked in with a record-breaking 1:43.47 in the 200 freestyle relay.

Taft's Blake Nord fell short of a title in the 200 freestyle after entering as the top seed. He finished second to Bayliss. The Taft boys, who placed fifth, did get an individual title when Dmitry Uchil won the 50 freestyle.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1) Khodadad Afkhami of Van Nuys won the consolation final of the 200 individual medley.

(2) Brett Brown of El Camino Real took a fifth-place finish in the boys' 200 individual medley.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News