Long Beach Poly Ends Wilson’s Historic 49-Year Win Streak With 1st Moore League Title

The longest league championship streak in California history finally came to an end this weekend in Long Beach.

The Long Beach Poly boys’ swim team swept all 11 events to claim the Moore League title at Long Beach City College, snapping Wilson’s legendary 49-year winning streak that dated back to 1972. It was the first league crown ever for the Long Beach Poly boys’ swim program.

“As a Poly alum and then as a coach, just knowing that there are 49 years worth of guys that never got it, that means the world to me,” first-year Long Beach Poly coach Ish Pluton told The562. “I know it means the world to the boys, I know there are tons of aquatics alums from Poly that are now over the moon, because this has been a very long time coming. I think the last time another team won there were boots on the ground in Vietnam, so.”

Pluton also guided the boys’ water polo team at Long Beach Poly to its first CIF championship since 1929 in the fall of 2021, but he said this victory was even sweeter.

“It’s better to me, because it’s Long Beach, than the CIF championship,” Pluton explained. “That was awesome for Poly water polo, but this huge win for Poly swim, in this league rivalry where we have this intense battle every year with Wilson, this is unbelievably cool.”

Long Beach Poly senior Colin Geer, a Michigan commit, set a pair of league records during his victories in the 200-yard freestyle (1:38.23) and 100 butterfly (47.50). Geer was about half a second off his lifetime best in the 100 fly, but he dropped more than three seconds in the 200 free.

Fellow Long Beach Poly senior Reece Hammond added two individual wins in the 50 free (21.65) and 100 free (47.12). He shaved a couple tenths off his best 50 time while dropping over a second in the 100 free.

Long Beach Poly had a third multi-event winner, freshman Lucas Jue, who triumphed in the 200 IM (1:54.42) and 100 back (51.58). He dropped more than two seconds in the 200 IM and nearly two seconds in the 100 back.

Boys’ Team Scores:

1. Long Beach Poly – 563 points
2. Wilson – 524
3. Millikan – 318
4. Cabrillo – 188
5. Lakewood – 90
6. Jordan – 45

Wilson junior Sammie Hamilton put on a dominant display to lead her squad past Long Beach Poly for the title.

Hamilton broke Moore League records in all four events she raced in: the 200 free (1:50.41), 500 free (4:51.61), 200 free relay (1:36.79), and 400 free relay (3:33.62).

Vanessa Newton and Katherine O’Dea also took home individual titles for Wilson in the 50 free (24.57) and 100 free (52.92), respectively.

Millikan’s Kylie Montiel captured individual titles in the 100 fly (58.50) and 100 back (58.63), dropping almost a second in the 100 fly.

Girls’ Team Scores

1.     Wilson – 574
2.     Poly – 486
3.     Millikan – 313
4.     Lakewood – 181
5.     Cabrillo – 123
6.     Jordan – 34