Ian Prichard

Ian Prichard of Buena High blazed through the 500-yard freestyle in 4:24.78 in the Southern Section Division I boys' swimming preliminaries Thursday at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach. Prichard's effort was almost nine seconds faster than second-place qualifier Juan Veloz of Mission Viejo. Prichard was almost as impressive in the 200 freestyle, where he also clocked the fastest time in 1:38.86. Taylor Horne of Dana Hills was second in 1:42.53.

Literature buff Ian Prichard, an avid fan of authors ranging from John Steinbeck to iconoclastic poet and novelist Jack Kerouac, began a new chapter in his life last fall. Now the freshman at Virginia is set to close the book on a successful swimming season, no matter what happens today in the NCAA men's swimming and diving championships at Texas A&M. "College swimming is amazing," said Prichard, from Buena High. "We have almost 30 guys on the team and we all have the same goals.

Buena High senior Ian Prichard had a satisfied grin as he handled a gold medallion he earned for winning the 200-yard freestyle race at the Southern Section Division I championships Friday at Belmont Plaza. He had even more reason to celebrate later in the meet, after he won the 500 free in a personal-best and Division I-record time of 4:19.34 to defend both of the titles he won last year. Prichard broke a 15-year-old record of 4:19.47 by Dan Jorgensen of Mission Viejo.

Ian Prichard took on the best high school swimmers and won during the Southern Section Division I championships in May. Next, he will try to take on the world. If Prichard qualifies for the 2000 Olympic Games and wins in Sydney, Mark Bernardino wouldn't be surprised. "I've just got a gut feeling," Bernardino said. "We think he's got that kind of potential." Bernardino recruited Prichard to the University of Virginia, where the recent Buena High graduate will compete on a full swim scholarship.

Ian Prichard took on the best high school swimmers and won during the Southern Section Division I championships in May. Next, he will try to take on the world. If Prichard qualifies for the 2000 Olympic Games and wins in Sydney, Mark Bernardino wouldn't be surprised. "I've just got a gut feeling," Bernardino said. "We think he's got that kind of potential." Bernardino recruited Prichard to the University of Virginia, where the recent Buena High graduate will compete on a full swim scholarship.

Ian Prichard could turn his head to either side to surface for air in the middle of either of his races at the Southern Section Division I swimming championships and see . . . no one. Prichard, a Buena High senior, left the competition in his wake last weekend at Belmont Plaza at Long Beach. Or so it seemed. "The real race comes from me and my coaches," he said. Prichard, though, is beginning to outdo even himself. His victory in the 500-yard freestyle at the Southern Section meet in 4:19.

Ian Prichard of Buena High and the Buenaventura Swim Club finished fifth in the 800-meter freestyle at the Phillips 66 U.S. National Summer Swimming Championships on Friday at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn. Prichard knocked nearly seven seconds off his career-best with a time of 8:10.42 in the only race of the first day of the meet. Prichard, 17, qualified 14th for the meet in the 800 with a time of 8:17.27. Ryk Neethling, 21, of the Hillenbrand Swim Club in Tucson, Ariz.

Literature buff Ian Prichard, an avid fan of authors ranging from John Steinbeck to iconoclastic poet and novelist Jack Kerouac, began a new chapter in his life last fall. Now the freshman at Virginia is set to close the book on a successful swimming season, no matter what happens today in the NCAA men's swimming and diving championships at Texas A&M. "College swimming is amazing," said Prichard, from Buena High. "We have almost 30 guys on the team and we all have the same goals.

It wasn't long ago that Ian Prichard was just one of millions of American kids involved in age-group swimming through youth clubs. But in a sport in which one-hundredth of a second often separates winning and losing, Prichard has become a one-in-a-million swimmer almost that quickly. "A year and a half ago, nobody except people around here knew who he was," said Rob Mirande, coach of the Ventura-based Buenaventura Swim Club for which Prichard competes.

Ian Prichard of Virginia, the Times' Valley/Ventura County 2000 boys' swimmer of the year, was selected most valuable at the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships. He helped the Cavaliers win their third consecutive title at Charlottesville, Va. Prichard, a Buena High graduate, shattered ACC, school and pool records in the 1,650-yard freestyle and the 500 freestyle. He timed 14:51.70 in the 1,650, beating the NCAA Championships' qualifying time of 15:06.92 by more than 15 seconds.

Ian Prichard could turn his head to either side to surface for air in the middle of either of his races at the Southern Section Division I swimming championships and see . . . no one. Prichard, a Buena High senior, left the competition in his wake last weekend at Belmont Plaza at Long Beach. Or so it seemed. "The real race comes from me and my coaches," he said. Prichard, though, is beginning to outdo even himself. His victory in the 500-yard freestyle at the Southern Section meet in 4:19.

Buena High senior Ian Prichard had a satisfied grin as he handled a gold medallion he earned for winning the 200-yard freestyle race at the Southern Section Division I championships Friday at Belmont Plaza. He had even more reason to celebrate later in the meet, after he won the 500 free in a personal-best and Division I-record time of 4:19.34 to defend both of the titles he won last year. Prichard broke a 15-year-old record of 4:19.47 by Dan Jorgensen of Mission Viejo.

Ian Prichard of Buena High and the Buenaventura Swim Club finished fifth in the 800-meter freestyle at the Phillips 66 U.S. National Summer Swimming Championships on Friday at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minn. Prichard knocked nearly seven seconds off his career-best with a time of 8:10.42 in the only race of the first day of the meet. Prichard, 17, qualified 14th for the meet in the 800 with a time of 8:17.27. Ryk Neethling, 21, of the Hillenbrand Swim Club in Tucson, Ariz.

It wasn't long ago that Ian Prichard was just one of millions of American kids involved in age-group swimming through youth clubs. But in a sport in which one-hundredth of a second often separates winning and losing, Prichard has become a one-in-a-million swimmer almost that quickly. "A year and a half ago, nobody except people around here knew who he was," said Rob Mirande, coach of the Ventura-based Buenaventura Swim Club for which Prichard competes.

Ian Prichard of Buena High blazed through the 500-yard freestyle in 4:24.78 in the Southern Section Division I boys' swimming preliminaries Thursday at Belmont Plaza Pool in Long Beach. Prichard's effort was almost nine seconds faster than second-place qualifier Juan Veloz of Mission Viejo. Prichard was almost as impressive in the 200 freestyle, where he also clocked the fastest time in 1:38.86. Taylor Horne of Dana Hills was second in 1:42.53.

Branduinn Fullove, a 6-foot-6 senior guard at Simi Valley High, has committed to UC Santa Barbara. "It's going to be a great place to go," said Fullove, who was also recruited by Wyoming. Fullove averaged 16.6 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.7 assists for Simi Valley, which reached the Southern Section Division I-A semifinals last season. Santa Barbara, under second-year coach Bob Williams, signed B.J. Ward and Nick Jones from Santa Clara and J.J. Todd from Chaminade last season.

* Freshman Ian Prichard of Virginia, formerly of Buena High, has been chosen Atlantic Coast Conference swimmer of the year. Prichard set conference, ACC meet and Virginia school records in winning the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle events at the ACC Championships in February. BASEBALL * Dale Legaspi, Crespi High's starting shortstop the last two years, has committed to USC. Legaspi has a 4.3 grade-point average and scored 1320 on the SAT.