SWIMMING NOTEBOOK: HIGHLAND, QUARTZ HILL RENEW RIVALRY GOLDEN LEAGUE RIVALS TO MEET AT A.V. INVITATIONAL.

Byline: ERIK BOAL Special to the Daily News

As far as Billy Bishop is concerned, Highland's season officially begins today.

After seven weeks of anticipation, Bishop and his Bulldogs teammates finally compete against Quartz Hill at the fourth annual Antelope Valley Invitational at Eastside Pool in Lancaster.

"It's a good chance to check out your competition," said Bishop, who is among the leading contenders to win the boys' 50- and 100-yard freestyles. "If we find out that our competition is as close as we think it is, then it's going to be (a great meet)."

The showdown is the first of three meetings between the rivals in a 19-day period, culminating with the Golden League championships May 3 at Eastside. The meet originally was scheduled for March 11 but was postponed after three inches of snow fell in the Antelope Valley.

The five-week delay has enabled both teams to develop younger swimmers, fine-tune their lineups and sharpen relay exchanges. Quartz Hill might have a slight edge in competition, scheduling nonleague meets against Southern Section Div. I programs Canyon of Canyon Country and Valencia.

The Bulldogs hope to counter with momentum from Wednesday's 115-62 victory over Lancaster, in which Bishop won the 50 (22.45 seconds) and 100 (49.63) frees and anchored the 200 medley (1:51.45) and 400 free (3:41.94) relays to victories.

"I have so much faith in this team, it's disgusting," said Bishop, a junior, who expects a strong challenge from Quartz Hill in the relays.

The Rebels won the 200 medley in 1:49.63 and the 400 free in 3:37.43 in Thursday's 143-27 victory over Palmdale.

"Everybody swam phenomenal (Wednesday), and we're going to need more of the same (today)," Bishop said.

Ladies first: Quartz Hill's girls' team defeated Highland by 139 points at last year's invitational. The Bulldogs believe the score will be much closer this season.

After failing to win a single event last year, Highland appears to have the advantage over the Rebels in the 200 medley and 400 free relays, thanks to freshmen Ashley Cecil, Sara Pino and Jenna Poitras. The trio combined to win six individual events Wednesday, with Marissa Cecil capturing the 50 and 100 freestyles in a 124-54 rout of Lancaster.

"Marissa and Ashley can battle it out (in the freestyle events), which only makes the relays go faster," said Highland coach Judy Remy, whose team placed third March 18 at the Rubidoux Relays in Riverside, the Bulldogs' only nonleague competition. "Marissa was great (Wednesday), and I still think she has a lower time in her. And Ashley's been phenomenal. She's so fast."

Quartz Hill boasts its own group of talented newcomers, led by Brittany Blankenship and Lauren Hughes. They will be instrumental in the Rebels' bid to repeat as invitational champion.

Record-setting rookie: Palmdale freshman Mary Brown became the first Golden League female swimmer to win an event against Quartz Hill, doing so impressively in the Falcons' 134-38 loss Thursday.

Brown was victorious in the 100 butterfly (1:00.59) and 200 individual medley (2:18.23), both in program-record times. She has recorded qualifying marks for the Southern Section Div. IV prelims in four events, including the 50 and 100 frees.

erik.boal(at)dailynews.com

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