Born: December 5, 1962 in Glendale, CA
1980: Ventura High School
1982: Ventura College
U.C. Santa Barbara
Responding to a drowning woman in front of the Ventura Pier in April 2001, Mark Cleavenger, in full police uniform, jumped over the side rail.
In 50-degree water, Cleavenger swam 100 meters and kept her afloat for 14 minutes while extra help arrived.
A lifetime of competitive aquatics had helped Cleavenger for that moment.
Cleavenger won all-league boys water polo honors at Oxnard and Ventura highs as well as setting school swimming records at each.
At Ventura College, Cleavenger was honored as the Athlete of the Year in 1982. He was an All-American swimmer for the college in 1981 and 1982 in four events. In 1981, he became the first ever VC men’s water polo goalie to win All-American honors.
Transferring to UC Santa Barbara, he recorded the second-highest percentage of blocks/goal saves in school history at the time in 1982.
He qualified for U.S. World kayak team trials and Olympic kayak team trials for in 1990 and 1992, respectively.
Cleavenger was in the second tier of alternates for the 1992 Olympic Games.
He placed seventh in the 1,000-meter kayak event at the 1991 U.S. Olympic Festival.
At one time, Cleavenger owned five U.S. Masters swimming records.
Cleavenger has participated in numerous national police Olympics. At age 54, he remains a certified state lifeguard.
The Camarillo resident has two children, Dillon and Dana.