IRVINE, Calif.– Two California swimmers have been selected as Phillips 66 Hometown Heroes for the Phillips 66 National Championships in Irvine, California. Zach Larrick and Bella Brito are being highlighted by longtime USA Swimming sponsor Phillips 66, who is proud to recognize up-and-coming swimming talent from across the United States. 

Larrick, a rising senior at Loyola High School in Los Angeles swims for Rose Bowl Aquatics and has committed to the University of Virginia. He has lived in his hometown of Arcadia, California his whole life and has enjoyed having the opportunity to compete close to his home during the meet. 

“It’s really cool because I know a lot of the California people here that are all local,” he said. “It’s fun growing up with them racing and then getting to see them at Nationals too.”

Larrick placed fifth in the U-18 finals of both the men’s 100m freestyle and 200m freestyle at the meet.

A 15-year-old swimmer from Santa Monica, Brito competes for Beach Cities Swimming. She has appreciated the comfort of having her friends and family close by during her first Nationals experience.

“I know that they are going to support me in and out of swimming,” she said. “When I’m coming back home from a 6 a.m. practice…they don’t even know what happened, but they are wishing me luck which is really nice.”

Brito placed seventh in the U-18 finals of the women’s 50m freestyle and eighth in the U-18 100m breaststroke. She also placed 64th in the country for the 100m freestyle.

Phillips 66 has been a longtime supporter of USA Swimming and the USA Swimming Foundation, with the longest-running sponsorship in national governing body history. Next year, the two organizations will celebrate 50 years of support.