VENTURA, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Women's Swimming & Diving team won their 9th consecutive WSC championship this past weekend, scoring 854 points. The top three finishers in individual events and the championship relay team received First Team All-Conference recognition while those placing 4th-8th individually, or second in the relays, were tabbed as Second Team All-Conference honorees. The third place relay team and all individuals landing at 9th-16th were named as All-Conference Honorable Mention designees. | ORIGINAL RELEASE
"I've been a part of a lot of amazing teams, but tonight was one of the most inspirational evenings I've had as a coach," head coach Chuckie Roth said on Saturday. "To watch our athletes overachieve again and again, conquer new heights, deal with adversity, and invest in each other—I'm a very proud coach."
Thursday, Day 1:
In event 1, the Vaqueros immediately showed their dominance. Erin Otsuki, Caroline Oates, Lily Carrick, and Maddie Myers broke the school record in the 200 Free Relay—and naturally, won the event—with a time of 1:38.82. Myers' split was a lightning-quick 24.08. The 'B' relay of Lila Waechter, Sofia Paez, Addie Lane, and Kate Densmore were not far behind, having the third best time of 1:44.61.
The next event was the 500 Free. Carrick's school record time of 5:05.19 earned her 1st place, but Oates' second-in-school-history time of 5:07.32 was equally as inspiring. Down two body lengths from the 2nd place swimmer halfway through the race, Oates decreased her time in each of the last four 50 splits. It paid off—she finished 2nd, just .19 before the 3rd place swimmer.
The streak of inspiring performances continued into the very next event. In Thursday morning's prelims, the Vaqueros had Esther Sullivan try her shot in the 200 IM for the first time in her life.
After an 8th place tie at 2:38.03, a swim-off would decide who would compete in the finals later in the day. Swimmers who make the finals earn a minimum of 11 points. Sullivan took advantage of the opportunity, beating her opponent in the 1-v-1 race by 4 seconds.
SBCC capped off the day with a 1st place finish in the 400 Medley Relay, with Otsuki (Back), Myers (Breast), Waechter (Fly), and Oates (Free) bringing it home.
Friday, Day 2:
The second day of the championship weekend began similarly to the end of the first. Otsuki (Back), Waechter (Breast), Paez (Fly), and Carrick (Free) won the 200 Medley Relay with a time of 1:53.68.
Carrick then swam the 400 IM, winning in come-from-behind fashion at 4:32.83.
Later, SBCC swept the top 3 spots in the 200 Free, with Myers (1:54.45), Oates (1:56.17), and Lane (2:01.87) all medaling.
Another relay capped off the day, with the Vaqueros eyeing a 7:55 conference record in the 800 Free Relay. Lane-Oates-Carrick-Myers shattered it with a 7:50.79. Carrick's split of 1:55.18 was the quickest of the group.
Saturday, Day 3:
Hours away from defending their title of conference champion, the Vaqueros came out swinging. Oates obliterated the school record by 15 seconds in the 1650 Free, clocking in at a 1st place 17:45.34.
In the 200 Back, Otsuki, Tayten Neiderhiser, and Taylor Classen earned the team 48 combined points with 2nd, 3rd, and 4th place finishes, respectively.
Next up was the 100 Free. Myers came from behind to break a school record, finishing 1st (52.34) and edging out Carrick's 3rd place finish (53.17).
The WSC championship was well-secured, the final event was the 400 Free Relay, and the Vaqueros did not phone it in. Like the 800 Free Relay, they established a new conference record. Oates, Otsuki, Carrick, and Myers checked in with a 3:33.54, winning with nearly 14 seconds to spare.
"I walked away feeling so proud of these young women," Roth concluded. "No one sees what they sacrifice and how hard they work. It's truly an honor to lead them into battle."
Team scores:
1. SANTA BARBARA (854)
2. LA Valley (550)
3. Santa Monica (380)
4. Ventura (375)
5. Allan Hancock (325)
6. Citrus (294)
7. LA Pierce (251)
8. Bakersfield (149)
9. Cuesta (145)
10. Canyons (116)
