Photo by Bobby R. Hester
Photo by Bobby R. Hester

Swimming & Diving State Championships: Men's Knocking on the Door, Women Sit in 11th Place

The Riverside City College swimming & diving programs completed day one at the 2019 California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships. The men currently sit in fourth place with 88 points, while the women are just outside of the top-10 with 49 points sitting at 1th overall.

The men landed on the podium in the 200 Free Relay with a third place finish at a time of 1:23.73. Freshman Zack Thelwell handled the opening leg, while freshman Justin Gomez followed with the second leg. Freshman Sennen Chow and freshman Erick Fathoni finished out the race in order.  

Thelwell competed in the 50 Free and placed just outside of the top-three with a fourth place finish at a time of 20.66. Sophomore Javier Bernal placed sixth in the 200 IM with a mark of 1:53.59.

Freshman diver Matthew Carney capped the day with a seventh place finish in the three-meter dive by earning 154 points.

The women completed two relays by coming seventh in the 400 Medley Relay and 10th in the 200 Free Relay. The freshman grouping of Hannah Beth Cain, Mackenzie Herndon, Amelia Bennett and Liz Bouffort swam in the 400 IM Relay, while Bouffort was joined by freshman Michelle Hiller, freshman Kameryn Pfieffer and sophomore Caelan Loroff in the 200 Free Relay.

Bennett placed 11th in the 500 Free with a mark of 5:26.93, while Bouffort placed 16th in the 50 Free with a time of 25.51.

Freshman Celina Melgoza placed 13th in the one-meter dive with a point total reading 141.5.