Royal High coach Steve Snyder's swimmers will make a splash in today's Royal Invitational in the Rancho Simi Community Park Pool.

Several Royal swimmers will contend for honors in one of the area's top meets featuring 21 high schools throughout Southern California, beginning at 9 a.m. and running throughout the day.

Royal senior Robert Lubell is undefeated in the 500-yard freestyle and is a three-time Marmonte League champion. Lubell also swims the 200 individual medley and has a best time of 2 minutes, 5.92 seconds. Junior Thurston Hertler is swimming well, said Snyder. Junior Barry Snyder competes in freestyle races while brother Scott has lost only one race in the backstroke. Barry and Scott are the sons of the coach, and play for their dad's water polo program.

On the girls' side, sophomore Kacey Creek is a team leader in the freestyle and breast stroke races. Freshman Emily Hucal performs in the IM and 500 freestyle. Hannah Guthman is a versatile swimmer, said Snyder.

"The club swimmers are young but maturing," said Steve Snyder. "The boys are in the same boat as the girls."

Both teams have faced strong competition so far.

Snyder said the boys have missed Tyler McClure, who isn't on the team.

"Without McClure, we don't have the firepower," said Snyder of the former CIF champion. McClure will play water polo and swim at Ventura College for his freshman season.

Sullivan update: Newbury Park's Alex Sullivan is having quite a successful senior season. She's turned in a 1:00.63 in the 100 butterfly. She has a 1:52.19 in the 200 freestyle. She has a 53.0 time in the 100 freestyle.

Earlier in the high school season, Sullivan competed in the junior nationals in Florida and made the finals in the 200 freestyle and dropped several seconds in time in the 200 butterfly.

Sullivan is headed to UCLA. Another Bruin-to-be is Emily Bibb of La Reina. Both are Conejo Simi Aquatic teammates. Bibb has qualified for the Olympic trials in the 400-meter freestyle.

Sullivan's father, Brian, said she wanted to stay closer to home for college.

"Princeton and Brown were the first schools to recruit her. She went on a recruiting trip to UCSB and UCLA," said Brian Sullivan.

"She narrowed her choices down to California, Arizona and maybe Texas schools. I told her she wasn't going to make a bad choice because she was getting a good education."

Sullivan was sold on her trip to UCLA by coach Cindy Gallagher and the team members, said Brian Sullivan. He added the school's tradition of excellence was another factor in the decision.