Men’s & Women’s Swimming Land on Podium in OEC Meet #1

The Riverside City College men's and women's swimming & diving programs traveled to Golden West College to compete in the first Orange Empire Conference (OEC) meet of the season. The women placed second overall, while the men followed in third place.

WOMEN

The Tigers leaned on 11 swimmers to come up with 381 total points in a second-place showing. They finished behind first-place finishing Orange Coast.

Freshman Jessie Nelson bagged two first place finishes alone with a second place showing to lead Riverside with 57 points. She earned the gold medal in the 200 IM (2:21.79) and the 200 Breaststroke (2:39.64), backed by a silver medal finish in the 100 Breaststroke (1:14.54). She came in under her seed times in all three events.

Sophomore Lauren Loffelmacher followed with two second place showings coming in the 500 Free (5:40.87) and the 200 Back (2:21.83). She slightly missed the podium in the 200 Free (2:08.92) leading to a fourth place finish and 49 total points.

Freshman Grace Deen rounded out the top three for the Tigers after amassing 48 points. Her best showing came in the 100 Fly (1:12.15) to land her second overall. She placed third in the 200 Fly (2:45.52) and fourth in the 200 IM (2:35.23).

Freshman Anabella Storar touched the wall first in the 200 Fly (2:26.05) by besting her seed time by an impressive half minute. Sophomore Lindsey Habegger placed third in the 200 Free (2:08.39) to beat her seed time by approximately three seconds, while also landing in fourth place in the 50 Free (26.76) to best her seed time by one second.

MEN

Paving the way for Riverside was freshman Elijah De Vera as he touched the wall first in the 50 Free (21.31) and the 100 Free (47.29). He sandwiched both of his top finishes with a third place mark in the 100 Fly (53.47). All three times came in under his seed marks leading to a team-high 56 points.

Freshman Gerardo Garcia bagged two second place finishes coming in the 500 Free (5:00.76) and the 200 Fly (2:03.66). Sophomore Reese Starkey followed with a third place finish in the 200 Breaststroke (2:22.94) despite coming in six second over his seeding.

Freshman Diego Romero was just shy of a top finish in the 500 Free (5:37.72) to earn a silver medal after coming in well under his seed time by over a half minute.

Freshman Alexandre Le Cornec placed third overall in the 500 Free (5:16.26) coming in under his seed time by seven seconds, while sophomore Ryland Cummings finished third overall in the 100 Back (57.06).