“I want to do my own thing,” Nguyen said.
“We haven’t had anyone own the breaststroke since [two-time All-Area Swimmer of the Year] Ian Mirasola,” Lopez said, returning the nod.
No matter what he chooses or where he fits best, Nguyen (pronounced “nwhen,”) is expected to be a big part of La Cañada’s swim team for the next four years—a four-year, four-event athlete, Lopez called him.
Though La Cañada lost a few seniors last year—including reigning All-Area Swimmer of the Year Chris Myers—the Spartans have a good shot at winning the CIF title again, thanks to returning swimmers Renfro, Campbell and Ben Sullivan. The production that Chung and Nguyen bring to the table is still being discussed, though they’ll both likely be a leg in the 400-yard freestyle relay.
Chung and Nguyen helped La Cañada destroy Burroughs, 120-50, in their first meet of the year on Thursday—without Renfro and Campbell, who will be participating in the Junior Nationals.
The Spartans’ win in the 400-yard freestyle relay against Burroughs was anchored by Chung and Nguyen with a finish of 3 minutes, 35.35 seconds, only 30 seconds off last year’s CIF-winning squad. Again, that’s without Renfro and Campbell.
“We have the swimmers,” Lopez said. “We’re just shifting realignment. We have to figure out in what events they’re going to swim.”
Lopez added he hopes to get some help from the boys’ water polo players who are on the team. He said he was encouraged by what he saw from them, swimmers like Bo Mattix and Matt Myers (Chris’ younger brother).
“We lost a lot of seniors last year,” Mattix said, “but our team is really strong. We’re just gonna keep doing what we’ve done for the last four years.”
