The Pirates' men's swim team finished fin first place of three teams, while the women were third of five competing teams Saturday at the Western State Conference meet at Allan Hancock College. Marcus Rodarte and Mitchell Ongstad each posted a pair of individual golds for VC.
On the men's side, VC totaled 454 points to Bakersfield's 406 and Cuesta's 325. Ongstad had his second-straight solid performance with wins in the 50-yard freestyle (21.61) and 100-yard freestyle (48.20). Meanwhile Marcus Rodarte finished first in the 200-yard individual medley (2:05.14) and 200-yard backstroke (2:05.23). Chris Sands won the 200-yard butterfly (2:00.86) and Austin Hammond was first in the 500-yard freestyle (4:58.82). VC also won the 200-yard medley relay (Ongstad, Kaleb Rodarte, Cesar Martins, Alec Kruse) (1:41.15).
Kaleb Rodarte had a pair of runner-up finishes in the 200-yard individual medley and 200-yard breast stroke while Hammonds was second in the 200-yard butterfly and 100-yard freestyle. Marcus Rodarte followed up his two wins with a runner-up finish in the 200-yard freestyle race. Sands had a pair of thirds in the 200-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle and Kruse was third in the 200-yard freestyle.
The VC women finished a solid third with 325 points. Santa Barbara was first with 391 and Bakersfield scored 335. Cuesta was a distant fourth with 257 points, followed by Hancock.
Delani Clark was second in the 200-yard individual medley, third in the 100-yard freestyle and fifth in the 500-yard freestyle while Raquel Rodriguez was runner-up in the 100-yard backstroke and fourth in the 200-yard IM. Allison Olney placed third in the 100-yard freestyle and fourth in the 500-yard freestyle. Jessica Peace was fourth in the 100-yard breast stroke while Cheyanne Irigoyen had a pair of fifth place finishes win the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard freestyle. Quinn Cotter was fifth in the 50-yard freestyle.
The Pirate women also had a pair of third place finishes in the 200-yard medley relay (Rodriguez, Peace, Irogoyen and Cotter) and 400-yard freestyle relay (Christina Tellez, Alie Herman, Jessica Gean and Peace).
The Pirates next travel to Santa Barbara for the WSC meet No. 3 on Saturday March 28. Races begin at 11:00 am at San Marcos High School.