It set the stage for Thursday.
And April 26's loss made Thursday's triumph even "sweeter," according to Falcons Coach Jan Sakonju.
"We all stepped it up after a big loss last week," said Falcon James Martin, who took home league titles in the 100-yard backstroke (53.43 seconds) and 100 breaststroke (1:00.91). "This is 14 straight, we had to keep that going."
The celebrating started early as Martin, Jin Kim, Jinu Jung and Chris Kang avenged last week's 200-yard medley relay loss to Arcadia with a league-record winning time of 1:39.7.
"That was a matter of pride," Sakonju said. "They wanted to make a statement."
A statement that set the tone after edging Arcadia, which finished in 1:39.71.
"That set the momentum," Martin said. "When Chris Kang held on to that, we had a good head start on them."
Kang, who won the 200 freestyle (1:49.80), anchored the finals' first race and provided the foreshadowing for a day full of Falcon highlights.
In fact, by the time 400 freestyle relay ? the last event of the day ? came around, Sakonju was yelling, "Safe, safe!" at his swimmers. He knew his team had the win in its grasp and feared nothing but a disqualification. He didn't have anything to fear, though.
"A disqualification could make a huge difference in the meet and we weren't sure of the differential," Sakonju said.
At that time, Crescenta Valley's lead was already too great.
While Arcadia finished 55.5 points behind Crescenta Valley, Glendale took third with 230.5 points and Hoover finished fourth (142).
The day belonged to Crescenta Valley, though.
In between the opening race celebration and the final swim's safety net, highlights were plenty.
Martin's mark of 53.43 in the backstroke broke the league record of 53.76 that dated back to Crescenta Valley's Kenny Carpenter in 1997.
"It's one of those things I was going for," Martin said. "I'm happy just to have my name remembered."
Jung won the 100 butterfly in 53.2.
Vinh Doan followed with a 50.31 finish in the 100 freestyle, good enough for another league title.
And Jung, Kang, Steven Silversparre and Ted Gonder teamed up for a win in the 200 freestyle relay (1:33.01).
Of course, it all ended with Sakonju getting ceremoniously tossed into the pool.
"[It was] a test of their heart to see if they really wanted to win this championship," Sakonju said.
"I think their performances showed they did."
