Pooling His Talents

VAN NUYS —  Swim the butterfly, sting like a bee.

That’s what Birmingham High’s Eli Kase has done to opponents in a high school swimming career that, despite its success, has spanned more than the length of the Patriots’ pool.

Kase, a four-year varsity swimmer, specializes in the 100-yard butterfly but also competes in the 200 individual medley, freestyle and relays.

The senior’s talents, which include diving, have been instrumental in the Patriots’ success.

“We switch him around so much,” Birmingham Coach Lee Ann Myers Nelson said. “He does it all for us.”

Kase helped the Patriots (6-0, 5-0) take over sole possession of first place in the West Valley League with a 92-91 victory over El Camino Real (5-1, 4-1) on Monday. Birmingham and El Camino Real were league co-champions last season.

Birmingham relied on depth to beat the Conquistadores, and Kase provided much of it without winning a single event.

Previously unbeaten in individual events, Kase finished second to Mario Marshall in the butterfly and to Brett Brown in the individual medley. Kase also swam on 200 medley and 400 free relays that finished second.

He contributed 16 points.

“It’s the team and the relays that keep me going,” Kase said. “It’s always been the meets and my teammates that have kept me in swimming. I know other swimmers who do double workouts with the school and their club teams.

“But the long hours, the going back and forth, from one end of the pool to the other, it doesn’t really appeal to me.”

That’s because the versatile Kase is involved in many activities out of the pool.

He is a member of the drama club and is president of Knights and Ladies, a service club for seniors that occupies much of his time.

“I leave the house at 7:30 in the morning and get home after 10 almost every night,” he said. “I’m a people person. I like to be involved and be in touch with my school. I wanted to have time to do everything.”

Through Knights and Ladies, Kase helped organize a blood drive in January. He also was part of a senior group that organized a homecoming celebration that attracted 1,000 people, the biggest turnout in at least 15 years at Birmingham.

“I like it a lot,” Kase said of Knights and Ladies. “It’s a way to give a little bit back to the school. I wanted to make homecoming the best it’s ever been, and I’m proud to say I think we did.”

Kase tries to do the same around the pool.

He finished fourth in the 100 butterfly and was a member of 200 medley and 400 free relays that placed fifth and sixth, respectively, in the City finals last year. But he did not participate in the diving championships and has dived in only one dual meet this season.

“He’s an excellent diver,” Myers Nelson said. “But we need him so much in the pool that he usually just swims.”

Athletes normally are allowed to compete in four events at a meet, including diving.

Kase, who placed first in his only diving competition this season, plans to compete in the league diving finals.

“I really like diving,” Kase said. “I’m a pretty good diver. I just wish I could do it more.”

If he could only find the time.