Shapiro Finds New School to Teach Winning Methods

What’s this?

A member of the first family of Granada Hills High swimming coaching at Chaminade?

Stephanie Shapiro, the second of four sisters who have been a part of Granada Hills’ streak of six consecutive City Section girls’ swim titles, is the first-year coach of the Chaminade boys’ and girls’ teams.

“I used to think sometimes the coach was just a person standing above me while we were in the water, and now that’s me,” Shapiro said. “What’s actually exciting to me is not so much the wins and losses, but when a swimmer does well and swims faster than they ever thought they could. The satisfaction of it is amazing.”

Shapiro is enjoying her first season even though the Eagles’ teams are each 0-2, with Mission League losses to Harvard-Westlake and Crespi-Louisville.

“I think we have potential and we’re improving,” Shapiro said. “I think they’re capable of going a lot faster.”

Versatile sophomore Matt Jensen, a distance freestyle and butterfly specialist, and backstroke specialist Patrick Denice and breaststroker Blake Nilsson have been key contributors for the boys’ team.

Butterfly specialist Stacy Krueger and backstroker Metta Read are among Chaminade’s top girls’ swimmers.

Shapiro, a 20-year-old junior, posted the top times for the Cal State Northridge women’s team last season in the 500-yard freestyle and 200 butterfly. She won 15 City Section individual and relay titles during a four-year career at Granada Hills that concluded in 1998. The Highlander girls won four City titles.

Shapiro runs a disciplined program at Chaminade.

“I’m pretty strict with them,” she said. “I don’t put up with, ‘Oh, I’ve got cramps,’ or, ‘I’m tired,’ because I know how I was and how I hated it when people did that.

“I feel like swimming has disciplined me so much. Now that I look back, I’m thankful for it. So unless they’re really having trouble, they swim through it. I want the best for them and how they swim in a meet is how they swim in practices.”

That philosophy has helped continue a family and school tradition at Granada Hills.

The Highlanders’ championship streak, begun during the sophomore season of eldest sister Natalie Shapiro in 1995, has been extended with the Shapiros’ help.

Valerie Shapiro was part of Granada Hills’ 1999 championship team, although she chose not to swim during her senior season last year. Tiffany Shapiro, 17, returns to the team as a junior freestyler and backstroker.

“Swimming was our lives,” Stephanie said. “I think I’ve gone pretty far with it.”

All the way to Chaminade.

*

Natalie Shapiro, 22, is in her second season as the boys’ and girls’ coach at Granada Hills.

The Highlander girls’ team (5-0, 5-0 in East Valley League meets), gearing up to again defend the City title, was tested by Grant in a recent league meet.

The Lancers (2-2, 2-2) tied the Highlanders, 75-75, on March 15, but Granada Hills was awarded a victory because Grant used an ineligible swimmer.

The Granada Hills boys (3-2, 3-1), who placed third in the City Section finals last year, lost to five-time defending City champion Venice and were defeated, 86-74, by Grant (3-1, 3-1).

Neither of the Highlander teams appears as strong as last season, but both are expected to contend for City titles.

The girls were hampered by the absence of senior Jennifer Ward, defending City champion in both sprints, who was academically ineligible until last week. The girls’ team lost senior Nicole Shiflett, who transferred to Agoura.

“It hasn’t been easy,” Natalie Shapiro said. “We’re a little bit weaker than last year, I think. But it’s going fine so far, and we’re finally at full strength, with everybody there.

“We’re going to be up there. I’m hoping for first or second in City in both meets.”

The Highlander boys rely on junior Tyler Clark, defending City champion in the 500 freestyle and 200 individual medley. Others contributors are senior middle-distance swimmer Eli Novichenok, freshman butterflyer William Baier, senior breaststrokers Ryan Yoshinaga and Tony Kim, and freshman sprinter Ryan Yeung.

The girls rely on Tiffany Shapiro and sophomore Hitomi Aihara, who placed fourth in the City finals in the 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley as a freshman.

Alex Pedraza swims distance events, the butterfly and backstroke. Ward and Jennifer Rohletter compete in the freestyles.

*

Crescenta Valley and Hart renew their rivalry in a nonleague meet at 3:15 p.m. today at Crescenta Valley.

Crescenta Valley, the Division II boys’ champion the last three seasons, tied Hart, 85-85, last year.

Hart beat Crescenta Valley, 90-80, in 1999, snapping the Falcons’ 69-meet winning streak in dual competition.

Hart placed second to Crescenta Valley in the Division II finals in 1998 and ‘99, and the Indians were fifth last year.

“It’s going to be close,” said Crescenta Valley senior James Jenkins, defending Division II champion in the 50 and 100 freestyles.

“Hart’s gearing for this meet and we’ve got to have the same attitude. I think it’s going to come down to the relays.”

If it does, Hart might have an edge. The Indians placed third in the Southern Section Relays--their best finish in the meet--at Belmont Plaza last week. Relay teams earn more points than individuals, making them crucial in dual meets.

The girls’ teams also are competitive. Crescenta Valley defeated Hart last year, with Hart winning in 1999.