GOLDEN WEST MEN’S SWIM TEAM A FORCE IN ORANGE-EMPIRE INVITATIONAL

The Golden West College men's swim team traveled to Saddleback College to compete against the rest of the Orange-Empire Conference this past Friday. Final results saw Riverside City College emerging as the winner of the first of two invites with 722 points. The Rustlers wound up second with 608 points to Orange Coast (485), Cypress (407), Saddleback (280) and Fullerton College (21).

 

Ryder Tonkovich, Avery Pellicano and Ryan Novak scored the most individual points for the Rustlers. Tonkovich won both the 50 (21.91) and the 100 (47.48) freestyle races, both with small improvements in addition to a fifth place finish in the 200 free. Pellicano won the 400 IM in a stellar 4:15.52 time, got the silver in the 200 fly (1:58.93) and three minutes later started the 1650 free and swam well enough to get second place points with a time of 17:11.39. Novak was remarkable as well as he nabbed second in the 400 IM (4:18.12) and 200 back (2:02.10) before winning the 1650 free in a comfortable 16:48.36 effort.

 

Solid depth was on display for GWC all day long. Sophomore Daigo Fujita grabbed fifth in the 200 IM (2:07.94), fourth in the 200 back (2:06.15) and another fourth in the mile (17:50.11). Freshman Wyatt Mitchell displayed his freestyle versatility with a second place finish (4:56.98) in the 500 free, third in the 200 free in an improved time of 1:46.52 and fifth place in the 100 free with a 48.81 mark. Taylor Juarez was fifth in the 500 free dropping ten seconds and took third in the 200 fly (2:02.66). Gavin Little swam to a fifth place in the 400 IM. Freshman Matt Wolf scored two top five finishes with a third in the 400 IM (4:43.93) and fifth in the 100 IM dipping under a minute for the first time. Jack Wright picked up valuable points with two fifths in the 100 fly and 200 back races.

 

Finally, in the two relays, the Rustlers dropped times from the previous week's races. The 200 free relay quartet of Pellicano, Novak, Mitchell and Tonkovich got under 1:30 for the first time this season and finished third overall. The 200 medley relay saw Pellicano, Wolf, Novak and Tonkovich put together a 1:43.91 total to nab fourth overall and the B team from GWC, Wright, Little, Juarez and Mitchell had the fifth fastest time of the day in the event.

 

Head Coach Tracy Maurer thought the trip to Mission Viejo was worthwhile. "The day was much warmer than expected but the entire conference swam well. It is still February but there are some promising signs for Golden West College for the future this season. March will be critical for training but there is a lot of enthusiasm from this group. We are looking forward to the rest of the season."

 

Written By: Dave Pickford