Burroughs High Swim Team Shatters Records at Pacific League Championships

Historic Night at the Pool

Burroughs High School’s swim team made a splash at the Pacific League Championships last Friday, breaking four school records and claiming their first league title since 2012. The Indians dominated the pool at Pasadena City College, with performances that had longtime coach Maria Rodriguez calling it “the best night in Burroughs swimming history.”

Senior captain Jake Morrison led the charge, obliterating the school’s 200-meter freestyle record with a time of 1:42.18 — nearly three seconds faster than the previous mark set in 1998. Morrison’s performance helped anchor the boys’ team to a decisive victory over defending champions Crescenta Valley.

“I’ve been dreaming about this moment since freshman year,” Morrison said after toweling off poolside. “To break that record and win league in my senior year — it doesn’t get better than this.”

Girls Lead the Way

The girls’ team proved equally dominant, with junior Sofia Chen destroying the 100-meter butterfly record by over two seconds, touching the wall at 56.32. Chen, who moved to Burbank from San Diego last year, has transformed the program’s butterfly events.

“Sofia brings this incredible work ethic that’s rubbed off on everyone,” Rodriguez explained. “She’s in the pool by 5:30 AM every morning, and that dedication is contagious.”

Freshman sensation Emma Vasquez continued her breakout season by setting new marks in both the 50-meter freestyle (24.18) and 100-meter freestyle (52.47). The 14-year-old has been turning heads all season, but her league championship performance put the rest of the Pacific League on notice.

“Emma’s fearless,” said senior team captain Lily Patterson. “She races like she’s been doing this for years. Having her on relay teams gives us so much confidence.”

Years in the Making

This championship run didn’t happen overnight. Rodriguez, who took over the program in 2018, has steadily built the team through community partnerships and creative fundraising. The Burroughs Aquatic Boosters helped secure new timing equipment and upgraded the pool facility, while local businesses like Porto’s Bakery and Bob’s Big Boy have sponsored team meals and equipment.

“Coach Rodriguez changed everything,” said Morrison, who credits the coach with keeping him in the sport after a disappointing sophomore season. “She made us believe we could compete with anyone.”

The team trains at the Burroughs pool, but Rodriguez has also arranged partnerships with local facilities including the Burbank YMCA and LA Fitness to give swimmers access to additional pool time during maintenance periods.

Community Support Makes Difference

Friday night’s championship meet drew over 200 Burroughs supporters, filling the Pasadena City College natatorium with red and white. The vocal crowd included parents, students, and community members who have watched this team grow.

“The community support has been incredible,” Rodriguez said. “We had people who graduated decades ago show up to cheer. That’s what makes Burbank special.”

Among the crowd was Burroughs alumnus and former Olympic swimmer David Martinez, class of 1985, who presented the team trophy. Martinez, who works at Disney Studios in the nearby Media District, has been mentoring several swimmers this season.

“These kids represent everything good about Burroughs athletics,” Martinez said. “They work hard, support each other, and make the whole community proud.”

Individual Standouts

Beyond the record-breakers, several other Indians turned in career-best performances. Senior diver Amanda Torres captured the Pacific League diving championship, while sophomore backstroker Ryan Nakamura missed the school record by just 0.23 seconds.

The boys’ 4x100 medley relay team of Nakamura, junior Marcus Johnson, Morrison, and sophomore anchor Tommy Chen (Sofia’s younger brother) won by nearly four seconds — the largest margin of victory in any relay event.

“Everyone contributed,” Patterson emphasized. “We had swimmers drop time in events they’d never competed in before. That’s what team championships are made of.”

Looking Ahead

With league championship secured, Burroughs now sets its sights on the CIF Southern Section Division II Championships next month at Riverside City College. Morrison and Sofia Chen have already qualified individually, with several other swimmers expected to meet qualifying standards at this weekend’s last-chance meet.

“League was great, but CIF is where we really want to make noise,” Morrison said. “We think we can get several swimmers to state level.”

Rodriguez is managing expectations while acknowledging the team’s potential.

“We’ll take it one race at a time,” she said. “But this group has shown they can rise to any occasion. I wouldn’t bet against them.”

Building for the Future

With strong underclassmen performances and a growing youth program feeding into the high school team, Burroughs swimming appears positioned for sustained success. The Burbank Parks and Recreation Department recently approved funding for pool improvements, while Rodriguez continues expanding partnerships with club teams.

“This is just the beginning,” Chen said. “We want to build something lasting here.”

The team returns to practice Monday morning at 5:30 AM, already focused on the next challenge. For a program that struggled to field full relay teams just five years ago, it’s a remarkable transformation that has the entire Burbank community taking notice.