Rivalry meet ends with drama

BURBABK HIGH — Long after the swim meet between Burroughs High and Burbank had ended Wednesday, and long after most of the participants had departed, Indians Coach Danny Garcia and Bulldogs Coach Ryan Hairpetyan were in the Burbank aquatic office still trying to figure out who won the boys' portion of the contest.

By placing first and third in the final event of the day, the 400-yard freestyle relay, Garcia calculated that Burroughs had eked out a two-point victory. However, when Hairpetyan entered all the data into the swim computer program, it showed that the squads had tied.

Upon further review, the two coaches finally came to the conclusion that the cross-town rivals had tied, 85-85. The result left Burroughs and Burbank tied for third in the Pacific League.

"You can only have a maxim of 170 points in a meet," said Hairpetyan, after Garcia had the final result, 87-85. "It was a close meet and we tied."

Garcia said he switched up some swimmers in various events in an attempt to get the most points from his Indians.

"We knew it was going to be a nailbiter," Garcia said. "We went into the meet knowing that it was going to be close and that it could come down to the wire. And that's exactly what happened."

The girls' portion of the meet wasn't as close, as Burroughs rolled to a 110-60 victory.

In the boys' competition, Burbank received a solid performance from Alex Lambert, who had a hand in three victories. Lambert placed first in the 200 freestyle (1 minute 47.90 seconds) and teamed up with Christopher Mitillan, Brian Kwon and Kevin Miller to win the 200 medley relay (1:44.94) and joined Thomas Wee, Miller and Shane Pentkowski to take the 200 freestyle relay (1:32.82).

Lambert, who holds school records in the 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle and who advanced to the CIF Southern Section semifinals last season, said his team was motivated about swimming against its rival.

"I know a lot of the guys on their side and it's always nice to do well against your rival," he said. "It's like a big, big thing to go up against them and we were pumped."

Milillan also won the 100 backstroke (1:02.35).

The Indians were able to win the 400 freestyle relay in 3:24.71 with a strong anchor leg by Casey Ueno.