Tigers Finish Fifth in State; Deloffre Wins 200-yard Breaststroke, First RCC Champion in Ten Years

MONTEREY PARK -- Posting a fifth-place finish, including an individual state champion, the Riverside City College (RCC) Tigers men's swimming and diving team finished in fifth place at the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Men's Swimming and Diving Championships at East Los Angeles College's indoor natatorium over the weekend (April 30-May 2). 

Riverside, which compiled 265 points, finished just one point behind fourth-place American River College (266 points). The Golden West College Rustlers won the state championship (555.5 points), followed by second-place Diablo Valley College (479) and third-place Sierra College (361.5).

Among the highlights of the meet included RCC freshman Adrien Deloffre (Dunkirk, FRANCE) and his first-place finish in the 200-yard breaststroke (2:05.31) on day three.

"Deloffre became the first RCC men's state champion swimmer in over 10 years," said RCC head coach Jason Northcott.

Elsewhere, the Tigers 800-yard freestyle relay finished third (6:48.53) during the second day of competition.

"They crushed the previous school record by over 9 seconds," added Northcott. The relay included (in swimming order) freshmen Deloffre, Justin Rohn, sophomore Brandon Seay, and Garret Shimko.

Also, on day one, Deloffre finished third (4:35.75) in the men's 500-yard freestyle, Daniel Ghomi finished eighth in the 50-yard freestyle (:21.26). The Tigers finished fourth (1:25.13) in the 200-yard freestyle relay (in order: Deloffre, Shimko, Rohn, and Ghomi) and fourth (3:26.56) as well in the 400-yard medley (backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle) relay (in order: Shimko, Deloffre, Ghomi, Rohn).