The 2026 CIF-LA City Swimming and Diving Championships witnessed a dominant performance by Granada Hills Charter, cementing their status as a powerhouse in the swimming world. The school's girls' and boys' teams showcased their prowess, defending their titles with impressive margins. This article delves into the key moments and standout performers, offering a comprehensive analysis of the championship's highlights.
Girls' Championship
Granada Hills Charter's girls' team demonstrated their strength across various events, winning six events, including a sweep of the relays. The opening 200 medley relay set the tone for their success, with Sahasi Mahat, Isabella San Jose, Meygen Flores, and Elaina Brier combining to clock a time of 1:49.95. San Jose, a junior, shone brightly, repeating as the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke LA City champion. Her 100 breaststroke victory, achieved in 1:04.66, marked her third consecutive LA City crown in the event, remaining undefeated in this category throughout her high school career. The 100 breaststroke also featured a 1-2 finish for Granada, with Abigail Sirchalermchal claiming second place in 1:07.40.
Flores, a sophomore, added to Granada's success by winning the 100 butterfly in 58.21, securing back-to-back 100 fly crowns. While her time was slower than last year's lifetime best, it still placed her ahead of Venice junior Elise Kao. Flores and San Jose's contributions extended to the 400 freestyle relay, where they, Isabelle Bautista, and Libby Wilson-Gardner swam a time of 3:42.78. Kao, earlier in the meet, claimed a win in the 200 freestyle, setting a lifetime best of 1:54.98 for her second-straight title.
Jordyn Hale dominated the sprint freestyle events, upgrading to double gold this year. Her 50 freestyle victory, achieved in 24.14, showcased her speed, despite Granada's growing event win streak. Hale's 100 freestyle win, clocked at 53.06, further solidified her dominance. The depth of Granada's team was evident in the 50 freestyle, where Brier, Bautista, and Wilson-Gardner finished 2-3-4.
Anny Ambrosio, a senior from San Pedro, repeated as the 500 freestyle champion, improving her time from last season. Yaily Quezada, another senior, earned first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:01.40. The girls' top five teams were led by Granada Hills Charter with 458 points, followed by Grover Cleveland High School, Palisades Charter High School, San Pedro High School, and Venice High School.
Boys' Championship
The boys' team mirrored their sisters' success, with Ryan Zheng emerging as a key figure. Zheng factored into two winning relays and completed the 200/500 freestyle double for the third-straight year. His 200 freestyle victory, achieved in 1:41.75, set the tone for Granada's dominance. Kyle Lee and Ryan Cha, swimming in the 200 freestyle, contributed to a 1-2-3 finish, showcasing the team's strength in the event.
Granada's freestyle events sweep was a testament to their depth and talent. Kenneth Brier, a sophomore, broke 22 seconds in the 50 freestyle final, winning in 21.54 and leading a 1-3-5-6 finish. He followed this with a 100 freestyle win in 48.53, both of which were personal bests. The team's 1-2-3 finish in the 200 freestyle and 1-2-3-4 finish in the 100 breaststroke showcased their versatility and consistency.
The 400 freestyle relay, won by Cha, Lin, Lee, and Zheng, capped off Granada's dominant day. However, Palisades secured the first win of the meet, with William Ryan, Ethan Pan, Christopher Goodman, and Marco Sampaio winning in 1:40.50, outpacing second-place Cleveland by over two seconds.
A Rising Star
Sophie Kaufman, a talented swimmer from Boston, Massachusetts, joined her local club team at 9, influenced by her best friend. Despite shoulder surgery ending her competitive swimming days, Kaufman's journey highlights the passion and dedication that drive young athletes to excel in their chosen sports.
In conclusion, the 2026 CIF-LA City Swimming and Diving Championships showcased the prowess of Granada Hills Charter, whose teams dominated across both genders. The championship's highlights not only celebrate the achievements of the athletes but also inspire a new generation of swimmers to strive for excellence.
