Kim Had Record-Setting Season in His Grasp Early On

Predictions and boasting are common in high school sports. But Irvine senior Daniel Kim’s statement that he would have a record-setting season had to be taken seriously.

From the first day of the high school swimming season, Kim, The Times Orange County boys’ Swimmer of the Year, said he would break John Moffet’s Southern Section Division I record in the 100-yard breaststroke.

While Kim had the credentials as the county’s top breaststroker going into the season, the task was still daunting.

Moffet, a former Olympian and Newport Harbor High standout, set the record 18 years ago, making it the oldest record in Division I. It was starting to look unbreakable.

Kim, who smashed every breaststroke record at Irvine High, had been one of the Vaqueros’ bright spots since he started on the varsity squad his freshman year. And with the experience of three appearances in the section championships, including a title in the breaststroke last year, Kim knew Moffet’s mark would be tough to beat.

At first glance, Kim’s predictions of breaking the record seemed unlikely to come true. His best time in the event was more than a second off Moffet’s record of 55.24 seconds.

Things started to come together for Kim at the Laguna Hills-Irvine dual meet in mid-April, where he won the 100 breaststroke in 56.13.

Faster than his personal best, and done while unshaved and unrested, Kim started to get pumped up for the section finals.

“That time was very important for me,” Kim said. “It sort of gave me the extra push going into [Southern Section].”

In the preliminaries, Kim turned in a time of 55.60, just shy of Moffet’s record. And although Kim seemed calm about not getting the record, it was clear that the last thing he wanted was to sleep on it.

The next day, at the Division I finals, Kim sat quietly on the bleachers before he swam the event.

When Kim dived off the starting block and came up almost a half-body length ahead of the pack, it was apparent he was in complete control. He swam a perfect race to win in 54.89 and break the record.

Said Kim: “My coaches, teammates and family had a lot of confidence in me. And when you have so many believe in you, it’s hard not to accomplish your goals.”

Eager to start his next phase of his swimming career at California, Kim also has his eyes on the Olympic trials, which will be in March.

“I think you should never rule anything out. You have to believe in yourself and what you’re capable of doing,” he said.

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BOYS’ SWIMMING

FIRST TEAM

50 freestyle: Allen Ong, Mission Viejo, Sr.

Time: 20.88. Ong won his second consecutive Division I title.

100 freestyle: Allen Ong, Mission Viejo, Sr.

Time: 44.92. His second Division I title, was named swimmer of the meet.

200 freestyle: Jeff Larson, Marina, Sr.

Time: 1:40.17. Already All-County in water polo, Larson adds swimming to the list.

500 freestyle: Aaron Peirsol, Newport Harbor, Fr.

Time: 4:30.35. Not even his best stroke, should dominate the next three years.

100 backstroke: Aaron Peirsol, Newport Harbor, Fr.

Time: 50.15. Fourth-ranked in the world (200 meter back), will be after record next year.

100 breaststroke: Daniel Kim, Irvine, Sr.

Time: 54.89. Won his second Division I title, breaking John Moffet’s 18-year-old record.

100 butterfly: Mike Cavic, Tustin, Fr.

Time: 49.61. With the top time in the Southern Section, Cavic just missed Division II record.

200 ind. medley: Mike Harrelson, Los Alamitos, Sr.

Time: 1:50.73. After missing his junior year, he came back with a Division I title.

200 freestyle relay: Mission Viejo

Time: 1:26.00. Allen Ong (Sr.), Evan Ray (Sr.), Mike Feeney (Sr.) and Juan Veloz (Jr.). Won the Division I title and posted the county’s fastest time in the process.

400 freestyle relay: Mission Viejo

Time: 3:08.04. Allen Ong (Sr.), Evan Ray (Sr.), Matt Kelleher (Sr). and Juan Veloz (Jr.). Dominated this relay at Division I finals as they finished four seconds ahead of Irvine.

200 medley relay: Irvine

Time: 1:34.18. Jeff Natalizio (Jr.), Daniel Kim (Sr.), Jason Hwang (So.) and Jesse Turi (Jr.). Was one of the county’s top relay teams, swam fastest time in county at Division I finals.

Diving: Louie Gagnet, University, So.

Score: 589.60. Won the Division II championship and set record in the process.

SECOND TEAM

50 freestyle: Oliver White, Brea Olinda, Sr.

Time: 21.30. Division III champion in 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle.

100 freestyle: Jeff Larson, Marina, Sr.

Time: 45.80. Was a key in many of Marina’s freestyle relay victories as the anchor.

200 freestyle: Gonny Shimura, Irvine, So.

Time: 1:43.89. Versatile in all strokes, was a valuable asset to Irvine’s performance.

500 freestyle: Juan Veloz, Mission Viejo, Jr.

Time: 4:32.47. Was a big reason why Diablos won their sixth consecutive division title.

100 backstroke: Jarrod Cruzat, Servite, Sr.

Time: 50.95. Also a top water polo player, Cruzat demonstrated his skills in the backstroke.

100 breaststroke: Mike Harrelson, Los Alamitos, Sr.

Time: 55.92. Pushed Kim when he set record and was not far off the record himself.

100 butterfly: Jeff Larson, Marina, Sr.

Time: 50.80. Proved that polo players are not confined to freestyle events.

200 ind. medley: Jeff Natalizio, Irvine, Jr.

Time: 1:51.62. He swam a hard race to finish third at Division I finals.

200 freestyle relay: Capistrano Valley

Time: 1:27.18. Matt Summer (Sr.), Jeff DeLeon (Sr.), Jeremy Bierman (Sr.) and Blair Wallace (Sr.). Finished second behind the Diablos in Division I finals.

400 freestyle relay: Irvine

Time: 3:12.99. Gonny Shimura (So.), Jeff Natalizio (Jr.), Jesse Turi (Jr.) and Eric Birkelbach (Sr.). Won Sea View League title and second at Division I finals.

200 medley relay: Mission Viejo

Time: 1:37.24. Sean Wilson (Sr.), Attila Szilagyi (Sr.), Bo Luddy (Sr.), and Mike Feeney (Sr.). The Diablos’ weakest relay, was right there with Irvine to finish second at Division I finals.

Diving: Ray Vincent, El Toro, Jr.

Score: 506.05. Finished second at Division I finals.

Coach of the Year: Jeff Ehrlich, Villa Park