Downey preps for league meets next week

DOWNEY - The Downey High School boys' swim team currently has a 7-3 overall record and are 1-0 in league. Viking losses came to quality opponents St. John Bosco, Kennedy and Lakewood.Downey defeated S.G.V.L. co-champion Paramount in their first league meet this year 89-83. The Vikings return several key swimmers from last year. Seniors Abraham Gomez, Manny Fernandez and former East Knight Colin O'Connor are all back with more experience and speed. Gomez is competing in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle as is Fernandez. O'Connor is competing in the 100 meter backstroke. Michael Kim is swimming the 200 meter individual medley as well as the 100 meter backstroke and breastroke. Danny Webb is swimming the 100 meter butterfly. Freshmen and former East Knight Ryan Cruz is swimming the 200 and 500 meter freestyle events. Coach Delhousay sees Michael Kim as his biggest surprise swimmer and maintains that Kim is "the real deal." Downey will compete against Gahr on Thursday, April 12, at Cerritos College and will swim against crosstown rival Warren the following Thursday April 19. Both meets start at 3 p.m. Downey will be competing at the S.G.V.L. preliminaries on Wednesday, May 2 and finals on Friday, May 4. Both of these events will start at 3 p.m. also. Three individual swimmers Kim (100 meter backstroke), Cruz (200 and 500 meter freestyle) and Webb (100 meter butterfly) have already qualified for C.I.F. Gomez, Fernandez and O'Connor have qualified in the relays. Coach Delhousay also said that former East Knight Edwin Doo is close to qualifying for C.I.F. in the 100 meter butterfly. Delhousay and his team are looking forward to swimming against Warren on April 26 and league finals on May 4.

********** Published: April 12, 2012 - Volume 10 - Issue 52