WORLD CLASS

There was little doubt who was the best male swimmer at the Southern Section Division I meet this year.

He was the guy who really wasn’t prepared for the meet.

Newport Harbor sophomore Aaron Peirsol, with Olympic dreams in his head, hadn’t focused his training on this competition. He didn’t taper or shave, yet he came away with the Division I record in the 200-yard individual medley: 1 minute 49.02 seconds.

“I wasn’t expecting that,” said Peirsol, The Times’ Orange County boys’ swimmer of the year. “It was a pretty awesome. I had fun.”

That’s what Peirsol’s high school season was all about this year--fun. He hung out with friends while swimming in relatively low-stress competitions. Still, his natural ability shone through.

Not only did he win the 200 IM at the Division I meet, he also won the 100 backstroke and anchored the Sailors’ winning 200 freestyle relay team.

But it was his record swim in the 200 IM that was most impressive, even to Peirsol.

“Where did that come from?” he said after the race. “I just ripped at it tonight. Some meets are like that.”

His time of 48.28 in the 100 backstroke was close to the section and national high school record held by Woodbridge’s Derya Buyukuncu. It’s a mark Peirsol might have a shot at next season.

“I had to focus less on high school this year, certainly less than I did last year and less than I will next year,” Peirsol said. “I’ve always left a mark somewhere.”

He hopes to leave one in Australia this September.

Peirsol is ranked second nationally in the 200-meter backstroke, behind Lenny Krayzelburg, the world record-holder in the event. Peirsol won the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:57.03 at the National Swimming Championships in March. Only two swimmers have ever gone faster.

He is ranked fourth in the 200 backstroke. In August, Peirsol will try to become the first high school swimmer to make the U.S. Olympic team since Joe Hudepohl did it in 1992.

“He doesn’t have a lot of muscle right now, but he has tremendous natural skill,” said Novaquatics Coach Dave Salo, who trains Peirsol. “He has the competitive maturity you need at that level. He’s unique.

“It’s unusual for a male swimmer his age to make the [U.S. Olympic] team. More guys are staying in the sport longer because there is more financial gain now. When Aaron gets older, he’s going to be a very dominating athlete.”

He is already dominating at the high-school level.

His performance helped the Sailors to a third-place finish in the Division I finals. He was named the boys’ co-swimmer of the meet along with Ventura Buena’s Ian Prichard, although Southern Section officials forgot to announce it at the meet.

Peirsol did not lose a high school meet this season. He won the 100-yard backstroke and 500 freestyle in the Division I meet as a freshman.

“He has shown he can handle any level,” Salo said.