Erik Boal
CRESCENTA VALLEY HIGH -- Whether he is standing on the pool deck
preparing for a race or battling for inside position to get a rebound, it
is not hard to spot Crescenta Valley High's James Jenkins.
In addition to his 6-foot-7 frame and bleach blonde hair, there is an
aura of confidence and success that surrounds Jenkins in whatever
athletic endeavor he is involved in.
Jenkins excelled as the starting center and all-around inside presence
for the Falcon boys' basketball team, which finished second in the
Pacific League and advanced to the third round of the CIF Southern
Section Division IAA playoffs.
He averaged 18.5 points and 12.3 rebounds per game, was the league's
most valuable player and an All-CIF first-team selection, and led Coach
Jim Smiley's squad to a 23-6 record -- the most wins by a CV team since
1994-1995.
And in what he describes as his activity away from basketball, Jenkins
was a catalyst for CV's third straight Division II boys' swimmiming
title, dominating all opponents in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events.
Jenkins captivated the audience at Long Beach's Belmont Plaza, setting
All-American automatic qualifying standards in both the 50 and the 100,
en route to winning both events with relative ease.
He set a school-record time of 45.32 seconds in the 100 and swam a
strong leadoff leg in the 400 freestyle relay, which enabled Coach Pete
Loporchios' squad to secure a third straight CIF title by defeating
Loyola, 251-219.
But it may have been his two performances in the 50 -- once in the
event itself and the other as the anchor leg of the 200 freestyle relay
-- that set him apart from the rest of the competition.
Jenkins won the 50 in 20.71, one of the top 10 fastest times in
California state history, and further added to his resume by posting a
20.46 split in the relay -- the fourth-fastest mark of all-time.
But with all the accomplishments and even more attention thrown his
way, Jenkins remained grounded in his success and driven to improve upon
it.
It is because of his individual achievements as well as his sense of
what is best for the team that Jenkins has been selected the Male Athlete
of the Year by the panel of writers and editors of the News-Press.
The following is an interview conducted by News-Press sports
correspondent Erik Boal with Jenkins:
QUESTION: I know that basketball is your first love, but let's first
discuss your accomplishments in the pool. You were part of a third
straight CIF team title and your success in the 50- and 100-yard
