M&W SWIMMING: On a day in which the first Western State Conference scoring meet of the season had its competition cut by the weather, the Ventura College men's and women's swimming teams met mixed results Friday at the Ventura Aquatic Center. Citrus and Cuesta did not brave sometimes treacherous driving conditions, leaving just Los Angeles Pierce and VC on the men's side and the Pirates, Brahmas, and Santa Barbara City College competing on the women's events. VC's men defeated Pierce 206-83, but the women placed third with 70 points behind SBCC (188) and LAPC (127). Chris Sands led the way for the Pirate men with three individual wins while Abby Brooks also had an individual victory.
Sands paced the Pirate men with wins in the 1,000 yard freestyle (10:26.55), 500-yard freestyle (5:10.38), and the 200-yard butterfly (2:00.11). Meanwhile Nick Vallejo finished first in the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.10) and 100-yard freestyle (48.05). Mitchell Ongstad won the 50-yard freestyle (22.52), Renan Mendes was first in the 200-yard individual medley (2:10.29), Kyle Berg won the 200-yard backstroke (2:17.68), and Joe Yamamoto posted the victory in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:26.10). VC also earned points in the men's 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay.
Brooks posted VC's lone individual win on the women's side in the 100-yard backstroke (1:07.35) and was second in the 1,000-yard freestyle (12:39.53). Sara Koler finished second in the 200-yard individual medley (2:35.16) and Kristin Shaffer was second in the 100-yard freestyle (1:01.54). The Pirates were also first in the 200-yard medley relay.
The Pirates will travel to San Luis Obispo for the Cuesta Sprint Invitational on Thursday March 6 and the Cuesta Invitational on Friday and Saturday March 7 and 8. The will resume WSC action at Santa Monica on Friday March 14.