Boys Swimmer of the Year: Tom Shields

Tom Shields secured a special place in Orange County swimming lore by smashing the national high school record in the 200-yard freestyle.

But that's not the race the Edison senior will remember most from his spectacular spring.

"The most memorable race for me is going to be the 400 free relay (at the CIF-SS Division I finals) - because I love relays," he said.

And like his goal of setting a national record, Shields got that victory, too.

Yes, Edison always seemed to win on multiple fronts with the team-oriented Shields. And for the second consecutive season, he is The Register's male swimmer of the year.

Shields became the first high school swimmer to break the one minute, 34-second barrier in the 200 free by clocking a national high school-record 1:33.83 at the Division I prelims at Mt. SAC.

The previous standard was a 1:34.96 by Olympian Joe Hudepohl in 1991.

Shields hotly pursued a few national records the past two seasons.

"To finally break one and to smash it, it had been a long time coming for me," said Shields, whose time would have placed seventh at the NCAA Division I finals in March.

Shields went on to capture 200 free at the Division I finals for the fourth consecutive season with a 1:34.35 - the second fastest time in history.

He also lowered his own Division I record in the 100 butterfly with a 47.55 - the second fastest time in the nation this year according to All-America applications receive by NISCA.

But Shields still had plenty of energy left for his teammates in the 400 free relay, an event that he had long held in high regard.

For the third time this spring, Edison's 400 relay trailed Capistrano Valley going into Shields' anchor.

Shields dove into the water with a nearly three-second deficit but split a sizzling 42.88 for his second comeback victory against the Cougars.

At the Millikan Relays in March, Shields split a lifetime-best 42.80 and narrowly missed rallying Edison.

After he stopped the clock first this time at 3:05.27, Shields quickly hopped out of the pool and joined hands with teammates Josh Smith, Michael Hauss and Kenny Bray. The relay teammates then raised their arms in victory.

"That was the greatest part of the night," Shields said.

Contact the writer: dalbano@ocregister.com