ATHLETE OF THE WEEK : Heady Performer : Callahan Swims to Backstroke Title, All-American Status, Hair and All

Perhaps, upon reflection, it shall be recorded in Jason Callahan’s memoirs--or in his mirror--as the wisest move he ever made. Or maybe, never made. If he had, Callahan might have gone through life nicknamed “Torpedo Head.”

Callahan, it seems, has a cranium that doesn’t exactly fit the swimmers’ mold. In the Southern Section 4-A Division swimming finals Friday night at Belmont Plaza Olympic Pool in Long Beach, Callahan was one of the few competitors in the boys’ division who swam without a bathing cap or a clean-shaven noggin.

“I have a real weird-shaped head,” said Callahan, moments after capturing the 100-yard backstroke title. “I can’t wear a cap and goggles at the same time because the goggles are always sliding off.”

Other swimmers in the event, however, did shave their heads or don caps to reduce resistance. Callahan took his chances with medium-length locks.

As it turns out, he was head and shoulders better than the competition, cruising to an easy win. Callahan, the only Valley-area individual to place first in the 4-A competition, qualified for All-American honors with a time of 51.89 seconds, more than 1 1/2 seconds better than Jason Cox of Marina, who finished second in 53.42.

Callahan, one of the few to make inroads on the Orange County domination--Mission Viejo won its 13th consecutive boys’ title--was in awe of no one.

“I feel it’s about time somebody could come down here and come away with a win,” he said. “I don’t think we should be concerned with what schools we’re racing against, but with the individual.

“I go by the swimmers, not by the names on their suits or their caps.”

Callahan’s time in the final was much better than the 53.10 he swam in his qualifying heat.

But even though he won the 100, the culmination of the season was not to his liking. “I was hoping to do a little better,” he said. “My personal record is two-tenths faster.”

Had Callahan been a tenth or two faster in his first event, he would have been a double winner. He finished second in the 200 freestyle in 1:40.51, a split-second behind Villa Park’s Greg Larson (1:40.05). Callahan’s time qualified him for All-American consideration and was only .15 off the standard for automatic All-American honors (1:40.36).

Some might insist that Callahan could have shaved .15 off his time had he cut his hair. Callahan will have no such talk. After all, a guy can do only so much for his sport.

“No way,” he quipped. “I had a butch once and it looked like crap.”

Now he looks pretty good when dry, locks and all.