SWIMMING NOTEBOOK: FIRSTS FOR LITTLEROCK AND KNIGHT.

Byline: Erik Boal Special to the Daily News

The outcome of Wednesday's dual meet between Littlerock and Knight at McAdams Pool in Palmdale wasn't going to have any impact on the race for the Golden League title. But for the Littlerock boys' team and the Knight girls' team, it was an important event nonetheless.

The Lobos defeated the Hawks 79-67 in the boys' meet and Knight posted a 69-47 victory over Littlerock on the girls' side. It was each team's first meet victory of the season; in the case of the Hawks, it was their first win in the program's two-year history.

``We were both happy with the results,'' said Littlerock coach Derek Kirwan, who used to swim for Knight coach Tammie Furman - who guided the Lobos' program for nine years - before graduating in 2003. ``When you swim against (Quartz Hill, Highland and Lancaster), it gives you a chance to point out how to do things the proper way. But against a team with similar numbers, like Knight, you get a better matchup.''

Littlerock, which boasts only six athletes on its boys' varsity roster, won nine of 11 events. Robert Taylor was victorious in the 100-yard breaststroke and 200 individual medley and Ricky Davidson won the 500 freestyle. John Buesso, Gabriel Jasso, Miguel Anthony and Shane Franks helped the Lobos (1-4, 1-2) dominate in the three relays.

``I've seen a great improvement with all my boys, in their stroke and their technique,'' Kirwan said. ``Our 200 freestyle relay is very close to earning a (Southern Section Div. IV) consideration time.''

As excited as Kirwan was about the boys' victory, he was also disappointed with the girls' setback. The Lobos (0-5, 0-3) had only four of their six varsity swimmers available, making it difficult for Kirwan to plan his lineup for the eight individual events.

``I saw us at a major disadvantage (on the girls' side),'' said Kirwan, who received a victory in the 100 freestyle from Selina Hamilton and a win in the 200 freestyle from Elizabeth Buss. ``I feel with everybody back, they'll do better against Palmdale (after spring break). It's a big rivalry, especially because they practice at the same pool we do. So, my swimmers want to beat them more than any other team in the league.''

--Building confidence: Tammie Furman won her share of Golden League dual meets during her nine seasons at Littlerock. But Wednesday's victory by the Knight girls' team was one of the more significant in the career of the veteran coach.

``The girls were really excited,'' Furman said. ``The day before the meet, I made sure they knew this was going to be a better meet for them (than Quartz Hill, Highland and Lancaster). For being such a young team, it was a big deal for them.

``There's so much that they're trying to take in, but I'm definitely going to try to help them in any way I can.''

Amber Mowry doubled in the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, and Ingrid Sanchez won the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle for Knight (1-3 in league).

--Tough setback: As much as Furman celebrated with her girls' team, she also had to console her boys' team after a tough 12-point loss to Littlerock.

``Neither of us had a lot of point depth and their boys won a lot of the events,'' said Furman, who praised sophomore Bryon Lacelle - a first- year swimmer - for posting the Hawks' only two victories in the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle. ``We didn't have the placement points to make up for their depth in winning all those events.''

Furman said Lacelle is Knight's best hope - male or female - for posting a Div. IV consideration time, which would likely occur in the 50 freestyle. Lacelle's best time is a little less than 1.5 seconds off the qualifying standard of 24.5.

Erik Boal, [phone]

erik.boal(at)dailynews.com