By Jimmy Friery
VENTURA, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Women's Swimming & Diving team began the season with a first place finish, scoring a massive 570 points at the Larry Barrate Preview on Saturday. The Vaqueros blew their opponents out of the water, scoring nearly 300 points more than the 2nd place team.
Coming off their 8th consecutive WSC title, and back-to-back Water Polo state championships, it is safe to say the Aquatics program is in a good place.
"I was super proud of our team today," head coach Chuckie Roth said. "We won all relays, and everyone got a chance to get up and race."
The day started on the diving board, with freshman Carleigh Carrano placing 1st in 1-Meter Diving with a 196.40 score, 30 points higher than the next closest diver.
Continuing in chronological order, in the 200-Yard Medley Relay, all 3 Vaquero relay teams finished in the top 4, including 1st and 2nd. The top team of Erin Otsuki-Maddie Myers-Lila Waechter-Addie Lane had a time of 1:58.46. Lily Carrick-Kate Densmore-Sofia Paez-Caroline Oates finished at 2:00.49.
Caroline Oates earned 2nd in the 200 Free with a 2:05.00 time, with Paez just a tick off of 3rd at 2:06.79.
Sofia Paez got redemption shortly after, placing 3rd in the 200 IM with a time of 2:22.69. Tayten Neiderhiser, Natalie Mancinelli, and Taylor Classen all finished within 8 seconds of each other in 4th, 5th, and 8th places, respectively.
In the 50 Free, Maddie Myers finished 2nd of 34 in the sprint with a 25.76 time. Otsuki and Waechter also placed 5th and 6th, respectively.
Lily Carrick placed 3rd in the 100 Fly, finishing at 1:02.05. Waechter, Neiderhiser, and Classen were right behind her in 4th, 5th, and 6th, respectively.
After a short recovery from the 50 Free, Maddie Myers placed 1st in the 100 Free at 54.75. Her teammates rounded out the winners' podium, with Caroline Oates in 2nd (57.66) and Erin Otsuki in 3rd (58.31). 5th, 6th, and 7th place belonged to the Vaqueros, as well—Mancinelli, Paez, and Densmore rounded out the SBCC-dominated event.
The 100 Backstroke went similarly, this time with Lily Carrick besting the group with a time of 1:01.89. Erin Otsuki was 3rd at 1:03.52. Neiderhiser, Mancinelli, and Classen finished 4th, 5th, and 6th, respectively.
Caroline Oates earned her second individual 2nd place finish in the 500 Free, timed at 5:35.50. Lane placed 5th of 15 participants.
"There were many highlights on the day, but Caroline had a great first outing of the year," Roth said proudly.
Maddie Myers continued her successful day, too, this time in the 100 Breaststroke, placing 2nd at 1:14.47. Waechter was 5th of 20 participants.
The final event of the day was the 200 Free Relay. Like the first relay—the 200 Medley—it was a fun battle to the wire between 2 Vaquero groups. Erin Otsuki-Maddie Myers-Lila Waechter-Sofia Paez finished 1st with a 1:45.12 time. Right behind them at 1:45.29 was Lily Carrick-Addie Lane-Natalie Mancinelli-Caroline Oates. The Vaqueros third relay team finished 5th.
"This is a special group and I think we can do some pretty remarkable things," Roth concluded.
Taking next week off from competing, the Vaqueros are back in action for WSC #1 in Bakersfield on Friday, the 23rd.
1st place finishes:
1-Meter Diving – Carleigh Carrano, 196.40
200 Medley Relay – Erin Otsuki-Maddie Myers-Lila Waechter-Addie Lane, 1:58.46
100 Free – Maddie Myers, 54.75
100 Back – Lily Carrick, 1:01.89
200 Free Relay – Erin Otsuki-Maddie Myers-Lila Waechter-Sofia Paez, 1:45.12
2nd place finishes:
200 Medley Relay – Lily Carrick-Kate Densmore-Sofia Paez-Caroline Oates, 2:00.49
200 Free – Caroline Oates, 2:05.00
50 Free – Maddie Myers, 25.76
100 Free – Caroline Oates, 57.66
500 Free – Caroline Oates, 5:35.50
100 Breast – Maddie Myers, 1:14.47
200 Free Relay – Lily Carrick-Addie Lane-Natalie Mancinelli-Caroline Oates, 1:45.29
3rd place finishes:
200 IM – Sofia Paez, 2:22.69
100 Fly – Lily Carrick, 1:02.05
100 Free – Erin Otsuki, 58.31
100 Back – Erin Otsuki, 1:03.52
Team scores:
1. SBCC, 570
2. LA Valley, 297
3. Citrus, 214
4. Hancock, 162
5. Ventura, 147
6. Santa Monica, 143
7. Bakersfield, 104
8. Pierce, 103
9. Cuesta, 77
10. Canyons, 2
