Bart Kizierowski

It was apparent during morning preliminaries on the second day of the Swim Meet of Champions that Bart Kizierowski of the Mission Viejo Nadadores was swimming with a purpose. "Whomever is named the male or female swimmer of the meet will win a laptop computer," Nadadores Coach Bill Rose said. "Bart is a big computer bug so this prize is definitely an enticement." So with a laptop as the carrot and the Olympic Games just around the corner, motivation would not be a problem for Kizierowski.

It was apparent during morning preliminaries on the second day of the Swim Meet of Champions that Bart Kizierowski of the Mission Viejo Nadadores was swimming with a purpose. "Whomever is named the male or female swimmer of the meet will win a laptop computer," Nadadores Coach Bill Rose said. "Bart is a big computer bug so this prize is definitely an enticement." So with a laptop as the carrot and the Olympic Games just around the corner, motivation would not be a problem for Kizierowski.

The Southern Section finals might not have been the biggest meet in which Bart Kizierowski has competed, but it certainly was the loudest. Kizierowski, a junior at Mission Viejo High, dominated the Division I finals, winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, and was named swimmer of the meet. But aside from the accolades and victories, what caught the Polish swimmer's attention was the noise at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

The Southern Section finals might not have been the biggest meet in which Bart Kizierowski has competed, but it certainly was the loudest. Kizierowski, a junior at Mission Viejo High, dominated the Division I finals, winning the 50- and 100-yard freestyles, and was named swimmer of the meet. But aside from the accolades and victories, what caught the Polish swimmer's attention was the noise at Belmont Plaza in Long Beach.

It's funny where swimming can take an athlete. For Bart Kizierowski, it wasn't that long ago that he was doing laps in Poland, wondering if the winter would ever end. The Polish swimming ace now is busy training for the 1996 Olympics with the Mission Viejo Nadadores and competing for Mission Viejo High. "I'm having a good time here," said Kizierowski, ranked 11th in the world in the 100-meter freestyle, and 14th in the 100-meter backstroke. "I really love the weather of Southern California.

Former Mission Viejo High swimmer Bart Kizierowski edged 2000 Olympic gold medalist Anthony Ervin of Valencia in the 50-meter freestyle final Saturday at the Santa Clara International Invitational swim meet. Kizierowski won in 22.32 seconds; Ervin finished in 22.57. Kizierowski, swimming for Poland, finished fifth behind Ervin in the 50 freestyle in September in Sydney. Ervin, a junior at California, broke Kizierowski's Pacific 10 record in the event in March.

Some of the nation's best swimmers will compete today through Sunday in the International Grand Challenge Swimming Invitational at Heritage Park Aquatics Complex.

Coach: Mike Pelton (21st year). 1995: 8-0, 5-0 in the South Coast League. Won its 17th Division I championship. Key returners: James Crowson, Jr.; James Davidson, So.; Agustin Guzman, Sr.; Brandon Hiji, Sr.; Karl Hyross, Sr., Bart Kizierowski, Sr.; Goh Phuangthong, Sr. Key newcomers: Bo Luddy, Fr.; Evan Ray, Fr.; Juan Rodela, So.; Fausto Trivino, Sr.; Sean Wilson, Fr. Outlook: It must be nice to lose top seniors and be able to plug in the gaps with swimmers just as talented.

It's funny where swimming can take an athlete. For Bart Kizierowski, it wasn't that long ago that he was doing laps in Poland, wondering if the winter would ever end. The Polish swimming ace now is busy training for the 1996 Olympics with the Mission Viejo Nadadores and competing for Mission Viejo High. "I'm having a good time here," said Kizierowski, ranked 11th in the world in the 100-meter freestyle, and 14th in the 100-meter backstroke. "I really love the weather of Southern California.

Amanda Beard, a 13-year-old from Irvine, set a Southern California age-group record in the 100-meter breaststroke to win the event Friday in the first of three days of the International Grand Challenge Swimming Invitational at Heritage Park. Beard defeated U.S. World Championship Team member Kristine Quance by almost four seconds, with a time of 1 minute 12.06 seconds. Beard also finished fourth in the 200 individual medley.

California's Bart Kizierowski, a former Mission Viejo High standout, beat Justin Ewers of Stanford to win the 200-yard freestyle in the second day of competition in the UC Irvine Speedo Cup at Belmont Plaza pool in Long Beach. Kizierowski's winning time was 1 minute 39.24 seconds. Stanford leads the men's competition with 812 points. California is second with 613 and Drury third (377). In the women's competition, Cal leads with 607.5 points. Nevada is in second with 577 points.