HIGHLAND'S BISHOP IS READY TO MAKE HIS MARK IN POOL.Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News On the pool deck, he resembles more of a rock star than a swimmer -- oversized o·ver·size n. 1. A size that is larger than usual. 2. An oversize article or object. adj. o·ver·size also o·ver·sized Larger in size than usual or necessary. jacket, hat tilted tilt 1 v. tilt·ed, tilt·ing, tilts v.tr. 1. To cause to slope, as by raising one end; incline: tilt a soup bowl; tilt a chair backward. 2. slightly sideways, black sunglasses sunglasses A tinted pair of glasses used to ↓ light arriving at the eye, which are labeled according to the amount of UV light blocked; nonprescription glasses are classified according to use and amount of UV radiation blocked Sunglasses hiding his eyes and usually surrounded by at least a half-dozen friends, fans or fellow competitors. On the starting blocks start·ing block n. 1. Sports a. An apparatus that braces a runner's feet at the start of a race, consisting of two angled supports adjustably mounted on a rigid frame that is usually anchored to the track. b. , he's an intimidating in·tim·i·date tr.v. in·tim·i·dat·ed, in·tim·i·dat·ing, in·tim·i·dates 1. To make timid; fill with fear. 2. To coerce or inhibit by or as if by threats. presence, with his 6-foot-4 frame towering over his competition. In the water, he's a dream teammate and any Golden League opponent's worst nightmare, especially if they happen to be matched up with him on the anchor leg of a relay. In less than three years, Highland High junior Billy Bishop has evolved from being a good swimmer on an improving team to a three-time league champion. He has matured from being a promising freshman who often lacked confidence to the Bulldogs' charismatic leader. And he has gone from only competing on relays at the Southern Section finals to becoming a potential Div. IV individual champion. ``When he was a freshman, all of the rest of the guys were seniors and they used to give him a hard time because he'd beat them a lot,'' Highland coach Judy Remy said. ``I told him from the beginning that I had the confidence in him, that he just needed to start believing in himself.'' Remy and fellow Highland coach Mike Timperio saw Bishop's confidence level increase dramatically last season after a 50-yard freestyle The code name for the MCE version of Windows. See Media Center Edition. race against Quartz Hill's Matt Smith, one of the top all-around swimmers ever to compete in the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley . Although most of the coaches and spectators in attendance at Eastside Pool believed Smith touched the wall before the sophomore, the watches indicated a 22.64 to 22.81 victory for Bishop. ``That was a big ego boost for Billy. He looked up to Matt,'' Remy said. ``Having the chance to swim against Matt was just (the competition) Billy needed.'' Bishop came back less than a week later to win the league title in the 50free en route to a 13th-place finish at last year's division finals. He also placed sixth in the 100 free. Those results proved to be the building blocks for a junior campaign in which Bishop has battled stroke for stroke with some of the best swimmers in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . ``In the 50 and the 100, he's proved that he can hang with anyone,'' said Timperio, a former four-time Southern Section finals qualifier qual·i·fi·er n. 1. One that qualifies, especially one that has or fulfills all appropriate qualifications, as for a position, office, or task. 2. at Palmdale. ``Even if he has a bad start or a bad turn, he's able to make it up because he's so long.'' After winning the 50 and 100 frees at the May 3 league finals, Bishop secured his position in the championship heat -- eight fastest qualifiers -- of both events at Tuesday's division prelims at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach. ``He's got so much natural talent and you can't teach that,'' said Quartz Hill coach Mark Thibault, a three-time finalist while swimming with Timperio at Palmdale. ``But when he's in the water, he's a competitor, there's no doubt about it.'' Tonight, with his mother Deb and sophomore brother, Justin, cheering him on, Bishop could become the first male swimmer from the Antelope Valley to win a division title since Palmdale's Walter Beddeo in 1980. Beddeo, who went on to coach at Palmdale, captured Div.2-A championships in the 200 and 500 frees in 1979 and 1980. Michele Kumaus is the only Highland swimmer ever to win a title, capturing the 200 individual medley med·ley n. pl. med·leys 1. An often jumbled assortment; a mixture: "That night he dreamed he was traveling in a foreign country, only it seemed to be a medley of all the countries he'd ever been to and and 100 breaststroke at the 2003 Div.IV finals. ``It's time It's Time was a successful political campaign run by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) under Gough Whitlam at the 1972 election in Australia. Campaigning on the perceived need for change after 23 years of conservative (Liberal Party of Australia) government, Labor put forward a for me to put the pedal pedal /ped·al/ (ped´'l) pertaining to the foot or feet. ped·al adj. Of or relating to a foot or footlike part. to the metal, to keep pushing forward,'' Bishop said. ``I want to take it.'' Bishop, who clocked 22.13 to qualify third in the 50 free, will have his work cut out against Bonita Bonita (Spanish and Portuguese for "beautiful") is the name of:
``I'm going to eat raw meat,'' said Bishop, who also qualified seventh in the 100 free (48.97). Bishop's season-best was 21.92 in Highland's dual meet April 27 against Quartz Hill. But Remy knows he's capable of going faster, having watched him produce better splits on relays all season. ``He hasn't really had that many opportunities to race this year,'' Remy said. ``But at least he'll be in the lane right next to (Brett Hays) so he'll be able to see him.'' Bishop has an additional goal of advancing to the inaugural Masters meet, scheduled for Tuesday at Belmont Plaza. In order for a swimmer or relay to qualify for the competition, they must record one of the top 24 times -- regardless of division -- at the division finals. Entering the division prelims, the projected Masters' cutoffs were 22.01 in the 50 free and 48.29 in the 100. ``Hopefully I can do it,'' Bishop said. ``That would be an unbelievable experience.'' erik.boal(at)dailynews.com (818) 713-3607 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Highland High's Billy Bishop could become the first male swimmer from the Antelope Valley to win a division title since Palmdale's Walter Beddeo in 1980. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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