AHS swimmers set their sights on CIF
By Thomas Gase tgase@theacorn.com

A year after finishing fourth in the Marmonte League, the boys' and girls' swim teams at Agoura High have regrouped for a shot at a league title.

According to Agoura head coach Jason Rosenthal, Thousand Oaks and Westlake are still the teams to beat in the Marmonte, but his team is full of many returnees that've been on club teams, and those swimmers' experience may help put AHS over the top.

"This year we have a much better balance of swimmers than last season," Rosenthal said. "We have a lot of club swimmers that are not just limited to one event; they can compete in multiple events."

Senior captain Beth Kaiser, who specializes in the 100 butterfly, leads the girls' team.

Kaiser is hoping to qualify for CIF in two of the three events she competes in- the 100 backstroke and 500 freestyle, along with the 100 butterfly. Kaiser said competing at the club level has really helped prepare her for league.

"On the club team we swim a lot of long course pools which are 50 yards," Kaiser said. "The league pools are shorter- only 25 yards- so by swimming the long courses, it helps our endurance and makes it seem a lot shorter."

Joining Kaiser on the girls' squad will be junior Alyssa Kent and sophomores Mariko Snyder and Casey Flacks. Kent swims the 100 butterfly, while Snyder swims the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. Flacks competes in the 200 and 500 freestyle.

According to Rosenthal, the girls' team received a boost this year with the addition of junior Morgan Shade. Shade moved to Agoura from Virginia last year.

"Morgan did cheerleading this year, so she wasn't able to swim much in the offseason, but she is coming around very nice now," Rosenthal said. "She is good for the team because she has the ability to swim in many different events, which makes it a lot easier for me as a coach."

On the boys' side, senior captain David Russak will lead the Chargers. Russak's specialty is the 100 breaststroke, an event which Rosenthal said Russak has improved in dramatically since last year.

"He has gotten a lot better in the 100 breaststroke, and I think that's because, like a lot of people on this team, he has continually been swimming year-round at the club level," Rosenthal said.

Also looking to contribute to the boys' team are juniors Peter Kurzeka and Paul Jones. Jones is a transfer student from Oaks Christian and competes in the 200 and 500 freestyle events, while Kurzeka competes in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke.

Jones and Kurzeka were on the AHS water polo team in the fall, as were seniors Alex Thompson and Ryan Paris. According to Rosenthal, Thompson should be a huge factor in the 100 backstroke.

New to the team this year are freshmen Jonathan Hall and Russak's younger brother, Adam.

David Russak said that he enjoys having his brother on the team and that the two have formed a rivalry in order to get the best out of each other.

"I see a lot of myself in (Adam), but I actually think he's faster than I was three years ago," David Russak said.

"We both really love the sport of swimming and have a friendly competition going on to see who will finish first and who will finish second," he said. "He has beaten me before, but not by much. Although he has defeated me, what I like about him is he still looks up to me and the rest of the seniors."

The older Russak is hoping that by the end of the season, many teams in the Marmonte League will be looking up at the Chargers in the standings.

"I like our team this year," Russak said. "The team works very well together and has formed a real sense of camaraderie. I'm hoping we can go all the way to CIF."

Agoura's next swim meet is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at home against Thousand Oaks.