The Orange Coast College men's and women's swimming programs had a strong opening day at the 2022 Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Swimming & Diving Championships on Thursday as they landed atop the podium in a combined seven events. The men hauled in four gold medal finsihes, while the women hauled in three first place times.

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MEN

The Pirates take a heavy lead as they earned 258 total points to sit atop the pack after day one in the water. Golden West follows with 184, while Riverside follows with 140 points.

The men began the day with a first place finish in the 200 Free Relay (1:25.10) backed by a dominant showing from Tatsuki Inoue in the 500 Free (5:16.21). The Pirates continued on to take second and third place in the 200 IM with Andrew Leong (1:53.13) placing second overall, while Toby Jones (1:59.75) finished third.

Ethan Smith kept the momentum moving forward with a victory in the 50 Free (20.53), while Dane Howell (21.16) followed closely behind in second place.

OCC's 400 Medley Relay (3:23.38) finished first overall with Mathew Simpson, Inoue, Jones and Leong all sharing the gold medal.

Golden West's had a strong day led by Srboljub Filipovic who placed first in the 200 IM (1:52.57). They continued on to place second in the 400 Medley Relay (3:08.53) compliments of Eamon Hennessey, Felipe Ferreira, Kyle Sary and Filipovic.

THe Rustlers' relay efforts continued ot land them silver medals as they placed slightly behind the Pirates in the 200 Free Relay (1:25.56).

Kyle Sary placed third in the 50 Free (21.45), while Nico Dangelo earned a bronze in the 500 Free (4:55.43).

Riverside had a pair of third place finishes starting in the 200 Free Relay (1:27.66) with a team comprised of Jesus Lopez, Collin Tormey, Ryland Cummings and Ben McCombs. They went on to place in the 400 Medley Relay (3:23.38) with Seth Zarn, Cummings, McCombs and Tormey.

WOMEN

Orange Coast holds a slight 33 point advantage over the Tigers as they lead the way with 255 total points. Riverside boasts 222 points, while Fullerton follows with 159. OCC hauled in three of the first place medals, while Fullerton and Riverside each pocketed a top finish.

The Pirates earned their first win from Giselle Quinonez as she touched the wall first in the 500 Free (5:16.21). Delaney Lewellyn (5:23.97) followed in second place.

Journey Werner (24.85) and Sude Yilmazturk (25.19) placed back to back in the 50 Free to reel in a hefty amount of points, while a first place 400 Medley Realy (4:07.09) team consisting of Alaire Thomas, Yoshikawa, Yilmazturk and Quinonez earned the gold medal by nearly 16 seconds.

Riverside had a strong day one showing highlighted by a first place finish in the 200 Free Relay (1:41.14). The team consisted of Valerie Juarez, Pilar Lara, Lauren Loffelmacher and Lindsey Habegger. Loffelmacher went on to place third in the 200 IM (2:18.53), while Habegger matched her bronze medal in the 50 Free (25.83).

Fullerton's Anoushka Jaiebsky dominated the 200 IM (2:16.11) for the Hornet's lone top showing. Their 400 Medley Relay (4:23.34) squad consisting of Neida Torres, Charley Jackson, Jordyn Lughart and Jaievsky placed second overall.

The same relay team with the addition of Estelle Zhou placed third in the 200 Free Relay (1:45.33).