RCC LOOKS STRONG IN OPENER

The Orange Empire Conference swim and dive season got underway at Saddleback College on Friday in Mission Viejo.  Riverside City College looked strong in the opener, winning 10 events.

RCC had some outstanding performance on the day.  Wyatt Miner, Jared Ladinez and Dionisio Martinez-Spencer all won two events to lead the way. 

Miner was the headliner, winning both the 200 Individual Medley (1:56.74) and 200 Butterfly (1:54.01) while finishing second in the 100 Butterfly (53.13).

Ladinez captured wins in both the 100 Breaststroke (56.77) and 200 Breaststroke (2:08.68) while finishing fourth in the 200 Individual Medley (2:05.73).

Martinez-Spencer was a winner in both the 200 Backstroke (1:58.03) while finishing in a dead-heat for first place with teammate Jeremiah Ireland in the 200 Freestyle (1:46.08).

Other winners for RCC included Zachary McDonald in the 3-meter dive (184.88) and Isaac Sheu in the 100 Backstroke (56.50).  The Tigers were also winners in both relay events.

Golden West finished second in the team competition and finished with four wins on the day.  Ryder Tonkovich won two events for the Rustlers, winning both the 50 Freestyle (21.91) and 100 Freestyle (47.48).  Avery Pellicano was a winner in the 400 Individual Medley (4:15.52) while Ryan Novak won the grueling 1650 Freestyle (16:48.36).

Orange Coast and Cypress both had two individual winners on the day.  OCC's Kaua Mota was victorious in the 100 Butterfly (51.15) while Jun Caruso was a winner in the 100 Individual Medley (54.53).  Cypress' Isaiah Bridgewaters stood at the top of the podium in the 1-meter dive competition (221.93) while Sean Eoin Tannehill was a winner in the 500 Freestyle (4:52.53). 

The next Orange Empire Conference Meet will take place at Orange Coast College on March 20.

Story by Brad Hoiseth, Saddleback College