By Jimmy Friery
SANTA MARIA, CA – The Santa Barbara City College Women's Swimming & Diving team finished 1st at WSC #3 on Friday, scoring more than each of their 4 competitors combined.
"It was a cold, windy day, and all the girls stepped up with smiles, gave a good effort, and we came away with the win," head coach Chuckie Roth said.
The day started with the 400 Medley Relay, and both Vaquero relays finished 1st and 2nd. Erin Otsuki-Maddie Myers-Lila Waechter-Lily Carrick swam a 4:18.60, while Esther Sullivan-Mary Leveroni-Taylor Classen-Natalie Mancinelli ended at 4:27.75.
Then, Caroline Oates won the mile, clocking in at 18:41.94, and Addie Lane finished 3rd.
Erin Otsuki swam a 1st place 2:10.42 in the 200 Back—a top 3 time in the state this season. Tayten Neiderhiser came in 3rd, and Taylor Classen was 4th.
In the 100 Free, the Vaqueros earned the top 5 finishes, and 6 of the top 7. Maddie Myers won handedly, though, at 54.65. Oates, Lane, Mancinelli, Waechter, and Kate Densmore finished respectively following her.
Lily Carrick completed the 400 IM 25 seconds faster than anyone else, in just her second time ever swimming the event. She beat her time last week by 4 seconds, finishing Friday at 4:41.88—second fastest in school history and second in the state this season. Sofia Paez came in 2nd at 5:06.99.
Kate Densmore finished 3rd in the 200 Breast at 2:59.52. Then, she was part of the 2nd place 400 Free Relay team, of Neiderhiser-Ava Smith-Densmore-Lane, finishing with 24 seconds ahead of Bakersfield's 3rd place finish. The Vaqueros other relay team of Oates-Waechter-Paez-Myers took home 1st.
Natalie Mancinelli finished 2nd in the 200 Fly. The only Vaquero competing in the event, her teammates were ecstatic to cheer her on.
"This team is so supportive, always cheering each other on, especially Natalie in the 200 Fly," Maddie Myers said.
Myers won the following event—the 50 Free—just a reach in front of Erin Otsuki. Mancinelli, Waechter, and Densmore finished 4th through 6th.
Like the 400 IM, Lily Carrick cruised to victory in the 200 IM. Sofia Paez again finished 2nd, and Tayten Neiderhiser was 4th.
In the final event, Caroline Oates-Erin Otsuki-Lily Carrick-Sofia Paez finished strong as 1st place 800 Free Relay finishers.
Altogether, 7 Vaqueros contributed with 14 points or more.
"Today, as a team, I think we did well keeping positive and encouraging attitudes as we faced unideal weather conditions," Erin Otsuki said. She finished 1st in 3 out of 4 events, just 0.11 behind Maddie Myers in the 50 Free. "Everyone always does a great job cheering each other on and maintaining the momentum of the meet."
The Vaqueros head to Pasadena next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday for the Pasadena Invite, a nonconference meet.
1st place finishes:
400 Medley Relay – Erin Otsuki-Maddie Myers-Lila Waechter-Lily Carrick (4:18.60)
1650 Free – Caroline Oates (18:41.94)
200 Back – Tayten Neiderhiser (2:25.53)
100 Free – Maddie Myers (54.65)
400 IM – Lily Carrick (4:41.88)
400 Free Relay – Caroline Oates-Lila Waechter-Sofia Paez-Maddie Myers (3:56.35)
50 Free – Maddie Myers (25.79)
200 IM – Lily Carrick (2:15.43)
800 Free Relay – Caroline Oates-Erin Otsuki-Lily Carrick-Sofia Paez (8:07.72)
2nd place finishes:
400 Medley Relay – Esther Sullivan-Mary Leveroni-Taylor Classen-Natalie Mancinelli (4:27.75)
100 Free – Caroline Oates (57.07)
400 IM – Sofia Paez (5:06.99)
400 Free Relay – Tayten Neiderhiser-Ava Smith-Kate Densmore-Addie Lane (4:11.29)
200 Fly – Natalie Mancinelli (2:55.30)
50 Free – Erin Otsuki (25.90)
200 IM – Sofia Paez (2:24.78)
3rd place finishes:
1650 Free – Addie Lane (19:48.58)
200 Back – Tayten Neiderhiser (2:25.53)
100 Free – Addie Lane (58.42)
200 Breast – Kate Densmore (2:59.52)
Team scores:
1. SBCC (220)
2. Hancock (65)
3. Ventura (54)
4. Bakersfield (31)
5. Cuesta (16)
