Canyons Swim Teams Make Splash at WSC Finals
COC sophomore Griffin Scott was named WSC Male Swimmer of the Meet, as the men’s team finished third and the women’s team took seventh.
The College of the Canyons swim team had its best showing at a Western State Conference (WSC) Finals event in program history last weekend, with the COC men's team finishing third and the women's team taking seventh while setting several new school records. Also making a splash at the event was COC sophomore Griffin Scott who was named the WSC Male Swimmer of the Meet.
Scott becomes the first WSC Male Swimmer of the Meet in COC history after a weekend in which he racked up two individual first place finishes, while combining with his teammates to help the Cougars take first in two relay events.
Scott started the weekend by taking first in the 200y Individual Medley while also setting a new school record of 1:54.76. His time of 50.65 in the 100y Butterfly was also good for first place, and another WSC title — but it was his time of 50.47 in the prelims of that event that set another school record. He also took second in the 200y Butterfly at a mark of 1:56.84.
William Karren was the other individual conference champ for the Cougars, with a time of 21.54 in the 50y Freestyle to also set a school record. Karren also set a new school record at 53.78 in the prelims of the 100y Backstroke, before eventually finishing third in the finals of that event (54.04).
The team of Karren, Naphong Aneksirikul, Scott and Ryan Swindell combined to take first in the 400y Medley Relay with a school record time of 3:36.45.
That same foursome also placed first in the 200y Medley Relay with yet another school record time of 1:37.09.
As a result of his performance, Scott will advance to the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) State Championships in the 100y and 200y Butterfly, as well as the 200y Individual Medley.
Karren also qualified for the State Championships in the 100y Backstroke, 50y Freestyle and 100y Butterfly.
COC's 200y and 400y medley relay teams, and the 400y Freestyle relay team (Karren, Aneksirikul, Scott and Swindell) will also be heading to state, representing the largest contingent COC has ever sent to a State Championship meet.
Altogether, the COC men's team earned 471 event points to place behind L.A. Valley (524) and conference champion Ventura College (598).
On the women's side, COC sophomore Jessica Yamauchi had the highest individual finish with her second place mark of 2:28.10 in the 200y Individual Medley. She followed up that effort with a fourth place finish in the 100y Backstroke at a time of 1:08.21 and fifth place finish in the 200y Backstroke at 2:26.90.
Breanna Hummitzsch set a school record in the 200y Breaststroke with a time of 2:49.98 to take 10th place.
Canyons will next compete in the CCCAA State Championships being held May 5-7, at East Los Angeles College.